How To Teach Fractions to Preschool and Kindergarten Students

Like all areas of math, fraction concepts need to be communicated to young children with developmentally approved hands on experiences and plentifulness of play activities. Concrete objects like pattern blocks and 3D fraction shapes enable kids to make sense of new math concepts or abstract ideas. Children need to have fraction experiences that:
incorporate their senses invite them to experiment and make observations let them learn at their own rate, and allow them time to explore a topic further

It is important that preschool and kindergarten math lessons offer opportunities for young children to compose fraction number sense. Before children are able to accomplish operations (adding, subtracting...) with fractions, they require lots of time for fraction games and play. This will help them visualize fractions and understand that fraction segments are equal parts of a larger object, skills primary for more industrialized fraction concepts. It is not primary to teach symbols for fractions (1/2, 1/3...) in preschool or kindergarten.

Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum

Young children are working towards the following, skills that are primary for more industrialized fraction concepts in time to come grades:
being able to visualize fractions and understanding that fraction segments are equal parts of a larger object,

Introduce fractions with cooking, stories, and games

Cooking activities introduce children to the language of fractions and help them link fractions to their daily experiences. As they take part in these activities, children become customary with fraction terms such as whole, part, half, third, quarters. For example - Cut the muffin in half, fill the cup half full, let's use part of the whole orange, put peanut butter on one half of the bread and jam on the other half of the bread, cut the sandwich in quarters...

Use fraction math manipulatives and toys with puppets to make up straightforward stories

Here is a sample circle time story using an apple fraction toy, 2 puppets and a basket:

Marty the Moose heard a knock on his door (knock on the chalkboard). He opened the door (squeak) and there was his friend, Sam the squirrel..

Improvise and have the puppets take turns cutting the apples and sharing them out, retention in mind that the goal is to introduce and help the children be customary with the idea of equal sized pieces that are a part of a whole object and fraction terms such as halves, quarters, thirds.

Play straightforward small group fraction games

Depending on your class size you may need to split the class into small groups, having one half working at independent math centers with modeling clay, drawing, blocks or puzzles and the other half playing the fraction game. As children play games and play with fraction toys they will gain fraction number sense.

The more time children have to play with fraction toys and manipulatives, the more their potential to visualize fractions as equal parts of a whole will increase. For easy fraction game ideas go http://www.kindergarten-lessons.com/fraction_games.html

How To Teach Fractions to Preschool and Kindergarten Students