Fun with fractions

Teaching fractions and measurement through filling beakers

During this enjoyable KS1 activity, students will have the opportunity to experiment with working out fractions while enhancing their comprehension of capacity. Fractions are like puzzle pieces that help us understand how to divide things into equal parts.

Using water and different sized beakers/containers, that are proportional to each other in size, to explore capacity and volume.

By the end of this activity, students will be able to explore and work confidently with fractions.

This is one of a set of resources developed to support the teaching of the primary national curriculum. They are designed to support the delivery of key topics within maths and science.

The engineering context
Comprehending capacity and volume is crucial for engineers as they design containers for various liquids and materials. Whether it’s aircraft fuel tanks or a simple tube of toothpaste, knowing when they are half full or half empty is essential.

Suggested learning outcomes
By the end of this activity, students will be able to describe and measure capacity and volume, and they will be able to understand that fractions, halves and quarters can be combined as part of a whole unit.

Download the activities sheets for free!

The activity sheet includes teachers’ notes, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs.

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