Fractions for Kids: Halves, Thirds and Quarters (Grade 2 and Grade 3 Math)

Hi, I'm Luna from DoodleBeez. Today we are learning about fractions. A fraction is a part of a whole, like a slice of pizza or a piece of a chocolate bar.

Here is a whole chocolate bar. If I break it into two equal pieces, each piece is one half. Let's cut it. Now there are two equal parts, and this one piece is one half.

We write one half like this. The bottom number tells how many equal parts the whole is cut into, two. The top number tells how many parts we have, one. One out of two parts.

Now let's cut a bar into four equal parts. Each part is one quarter. If I take three of them, I have three quarters. Three out of four parts.

Here is a very important rule. The parts must be equal. Look at this bar. It is cut into two pieces, but one is big and one is small. These are not halves, because the parts are not the same size.

Fractions work with circles too. Here is a pizza cut into three equal slices. Each slice is one third. If I eat one slice, I ate one third of the pizza.

Now it's your turn. This bar has five equal parts and two are colored. What fraction is colored? Pause and think. Two out of five. Two fifths.

Great job! Remember, the bottom number is how many equal parts, the top number is how many you have, and the parts must always be equal. Practice fractions in the Math Lab at doodlebeez.com. See you next time!