As counting skills begin to develop, fractions can be introduced. Long before introducing words like numerator and denominator, teach children that half means "2 parts the same," and have them use this knowledge to figure out things like:
How much is half of 4?...10?...20?...24?...30?...50?...100?...248?...4,628?
How much is half of 3?...11?...15?...21?...49?...99?...175?...999?...2,001?
As the ability to split numbers in half develops, add questions like:
How do you know when you have half of something?
Half of what number is 4?...25?...2 1/2?
How many half sandwiches can you make out of 3 whole sandwiches?
How much is 2 plus 2 1/2? How much is 3 1/2 plus 4?
How much is 7 take away 2 1/2? How much is 7 1/2 take away 2?
How much is 2 1/2, four times?...seven time?... two-and-a-half times?
How much is half plus a quarter (4 parts the same)?
What part of 12 is 6?...is 4?...is 3?...is 1?...is 9?...is 12?...is24?...is 30?
Don't be afraid to ask these questions of kindergarteners and first graders. The ability to "see" a whole as being a collection of parts should be learned in the early grades.
