Foundations of Mathematical Thinking · Senior Infants · Counting and Number Sense · Autumn Term

Sharing Equally

Mastering multiplication and division of integers, including rules for positive and negative numbers.

• NCCA Curriculum Specifications
• NCCA: Junior Cycle - Number - N.2
• NCCA: Junior Cycle - Number - N.4

About This Topic

Sharing equally lays the groundwork for division by teaching children to partition sets into equal groups using concrete materials. In Senior Infants, students tackle questions like sharing 6 counters between 2 friends or checking if everyone has the same amount. They handle objects such as blocks, buttons, or toys, physically dividing them and verifying fairness through one-to-one correspondence. This fits the NCCA Counting and Number Sense unit, strengthening early number skills and real-world fairness concepts.

Within Autumn Term number work, sharing equally links counting to grouping patterns and introduces division language, such as 'each gets' or 'fair share.' Children explore outcomes like 6 divided by 2 equals 3 each, building confidence with small numbers up to 10. It also nurtures collaborative talk about equality, supporting oral language development alongside maths.

Active learning excels for this topic because children discover fairness by manipulating objects themselves. Rearranging items until groups match provides concrete feedback, making the idea of equal shares memorable and reducing reliance on abstract symbols early on.

Key Questions

1. Can you share these 6 counters equally between 2 friends?
2. How many does each person get if we share fairly?
3. Is the sharing fair , does everyone have the same amount?

Learning Objectives

• Demonstrate the process of sharing a set of objects equally among a specified number of groups using concrete materials.
• Compare the number of objects in each group after partitioning a set to determine if the sharing is equal.
• Identify the number of objects each person receives when a small set is shared equally.
• Explain verbally why a particular sharing arrangement is fair or unfair, referencing the number of objects in each group.

Before You Start

Counting to 10

Why: Students need to be able to count the total number of items and the items in each group accurately.

One-to-One Correspondence

Why: This skill is essential for physically distributing items one by one to ensure each recipient gets an equal amount.

Key Vocabulary

Share Equally	To divide a group of items so that each person or group receives the same number of items.
Fair Share	An amount that is equal for everyone involved in a sharing situation.
Group	A collection of items that are put together, often for the purpose of sharing or counting.
Counters	Objects, such as blocks or buttons, used to represent numbers or items when solving math problems.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Sharing equally means everyone lines up single file.

What to Teach Instead

Equal sharing requires same amount per group, not just lining up. Hands-on grouping with counters lets children test arrangements and see why rows must match in quantity. Pair talk corrects this as they compare unequal lines to balanced groups.

Common Misconception

A remainder means sharing failed.

What to Teach Instead

Some totals cannot divide equally, like 7 counters for 2 friends. Manipulative activities show children how to identify leftovers after maximum equal shares. Group rotations build acceptance of this through repeated fair divisions.

Common Misconception

Larger groups always get more items.

What to Teach Instead

Each person gets fewer when more share. Role-play shops with varying customer numbers helps children count per person and discuss patterns. Visual aids like ten-frames reinforce that total fixed means smaller shares for bigger groups.

Active Learning Ideas

Pair Share: Counter Circles

Give each pair 10 counters and numeral cards (2, 5, or 10 friends). Children form equal groups around the card, count each share, and draw it. Pairs compare results and explain their sharing method to the class.

25 min·Pairs

Small Group: Toy Shop Fairness

Provide small groups with 12 toy animals and customer cards (3 or 4 customers). Groups share animals equally among customers, use linking chains to check equality, and role-play selling fair shares. Record with simple tallies.

35 min·Small Groups

Whole Class: Storytime Shares

Read a story about friends sharing sweets. Display 9 large sweets on the board. Class votes on friend numbers (3 or 9), then shares by chanting counts and holding up fingers for each share. Discuss fairness.

20 min·Whole Class

Individual: Draw Your Share

Each child draws 8 apples and a line for 2 or 4 friends. They colour equal shares in each section, label the number each gets, and share their drawing with a partner for a fairness check.

15 min·Individual

Real-World Connections

• When friends share snacks like cookies or fruit slices, they often practice sharing equally to ensure everyone gets a fair portion. This helps children understand fairness in social situations.
• Parents might divide toys or art supplies among siblings or playmates. This practical act of distributing resources helps children see the immediate application of equal sharing in their home environment.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

Present the student with 8 counters and ask them to share them equally between 2 dolls. Observe if they can distribute one counter at a time to each doll until all counters are gone. Ask: 'How many counters does each doll have?'

Discussion Prompt

Show a picture of 6 apples shared between 3 children, where one child has 3 apples and the other two have 1 each. Ask: 'Is this sharing fair? Why or why not? How could we make it fair?' Listen for explanations related to equal amounts.

Exit Ticket

Give each student a small bag with 4 small objects. Ask them to draw a picture showing how they would share these objects equally between themselves and one friend. They should then write or state how many objects each person gets.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to teach sharing equally in senior infants NCCA?

Start with concrete objects like counters for small totals up to 10. Pose key questions: Can you share 6 between 2? Use physical division, then check with matching. Link to stories of fair play. Progress to drawing shares, always emphasising same amount each. This builds number sense steadily.

What materials work best for sharing equally activities?

Counters, blocks, buttons, or themed toys like animals provide tactile engagement. Numeral cards set divisor, ten-frames aid visualisation. Large floor mats for whole-class demos and individual draw sheets extend practice. Rotate materials weekly to maintain interest and connect to play.

Common misconceptions in sharing equally for young children?

Children often think lining up items equals fair shares or remainders mean failure. They confuse group size with total amount. Address via manipulatives: let them test and rearrange, then discuss in pairs why certain setups work. Visual checks with mirrors or photos solidify corrections.

How does active learning help with sharing equally?

Active learning makes division concrete as children handle objects to form equal groups, experiencing fairness directly. Trial-and-error with counters reveals patterns like 8/4=2 faster than teacher explanation. Collaborative sharing builds talk skills, while recording own results boosts ownership. This approach cuts misconceptions and embeds concepts long-term.