The concepts of quarter and three fourth can also be taught with the same heap of
beads dividing the same into four heaps.
The idea could be taught using a sheet of paper also. A sheet of paper folded vertically
and horizontally so as to form 4 equal parts can be used to explain the concepts. The
four equal parts of the paper can be torn and be given to the child to explore, or
otherwise different textures can also be used to teach the concept.
- Fraction
A fraction is a part or parts of a whole. In other words, a fraction is a number which
is not a whole number.
Provide the child with few beads, say numbering 10. Ask the child to take one out of
it. Now the bead in possession is a part of the whole of 10 beads and hence it is a
fraction, which is one-tenth of the beads. Similarly, if three beads are taken, then it
is also a fraction which is three–tenth of the beads. Ensure that the child does not
misunderstand the concept, by taking the whole as less than 10 when some beads are
taken away from the whole.
The idea may also be explained by paper folding. Take a square sheet of paper and fold
it vertically and horizontally so as to form parts of the whole paper. Now to enable the
child to understand the concept, distinguish the required number of parts by a different
texture and allow the child to explore. For example, if the paper forms 4 equal parts,
and to teach a particular fraction, say 41 , distinguish one of the four parts by a
different texture and explain the child that the portion taken into consideration is
one of the four equal parts and hence it is a fraction, that is 41.
- Proper fraction
A fraction less than one, that is with the numerator less than the denominator is said
to be a proper fraction. In other words, a fraction whose numerator is less than the
denominator is called a proper fraction.
