Fractions: Exploring non-congruent fourths in first grade

Students in first grade really are exploring what fractional parts are with an area model and with sharing set models and fraction language (not fraction notation). It is important that students see examples and non-examples as they learn about fractions. My first grader Kai had some work to complete in his GoMath book and he made a very common mistake. So common that I have seen multiple many teachers make the same mistake! See, when we are first introducing fractions we want our students to understand that fractions require equal parts. But do those equal parts have to be the same shape? The answer is NO! Here is a video showing how to explain this concept of equal area to a first grader! Do not avoid problems like this. Design lessons around problems like this! That’s how you teach kids to THINK. ;). Even if your first graders do not all agree those triangles are fourths by the end of the lesson, I bet you they will all remember that fractions are supposed to have equal parts! You could do this lesson in K-5 grade!