Halves, Thirds, and Sixths

An excellent activity that effectively pulls together the concepts of area, fractions, and equivalent fractions! Using 3x2 rectangular arrays, 3rd graders are introduced to the concept of area in terms of square units. Building on this foundation, learners are asked to identify the fractions represented by shaded areas of the array, while exploring the idea of equivalent fractions. Finally, they create their own arrays, shading in one-half and two-thirds of the area in different ways. Students would benefit from having crayons/colored pencils and extra copies of the array at their disposal. Consider allowing them to work in pairs or small groups to open up discussions about fractions and equivalence.