You will learn
- Say that a half is one of two equal parts.
- Write the fraction 1/2.
- Find half of a number of objects.
- See that two halves make a whole.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- A half is one of two equal parts.
- We write one half as 1/2.
- Half of a number is that number shared into 2.
- Two halves make one whole.
Words to know
One of two equal parts.
The complete thing.
A part of a whole.
The way to write one half.
1. Discover: half of the loaf
You cut a loaf into 2 equal parts and eat one. What fraction did you eat?
2. Understand: halves
When a whole is cut into 2 equal parts, each part is a half. We write 1/2.
Two halves make one whole.
Half of a group means sharing it into 2 equal groups. Half of 8 is 4. Half of 10 is 5. Half of 12 is 6.
Idea 1: One half
A half is one of two equal parts. We write it as 1/2. The 2 says the whole is split into 2 equal parts.
Idea 2: Half of a number
To find half of 8, share 8 into 2 equal groups: 8 ÷ 2 = 4.
Idea 3: Two halves
Two halves make 1 whole. A rope 20 m long cut in half gives two pieces of 10 m.
Why divide by 2? Half means 2 equal parts.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Half of 8
Half of 8 is?
- Share 8 into 2 equal groups.
Answer: 4
Example 2 (We do it together): Half of 14
Half of 14 is?
- 14 ÷ 2 = 7.
Answer: 7
Example 3 (You try): Write
How do we write one half?
Show the steps and answer
- One part of two equal parts.
Answer: 1/2
Did you know?
The word half comes from an old word meaning side. Half a glass is full on one side.
Why this matters
Halves help us share fairly between two.
4. Explore: half of a group
You need 12 counters.
- Make 2 equal groups of the counters.
- Say how many are in one group.
- This is half of 12.
- Do the same for 8 and 10.
Think about it: what did you notice?
Half of 12 is 6; half of 8 is 4; half of 10 is 5.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- Half of ___ is ___.
- One half is written ___.
- Two halves make ___.
- I divide by ___ to find half.
Guided practice
Question 1. Half of 8?
4.
Question 2. Half of 10?
5.
Question 3. Two halves make?
1 whole.
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- Half of 6
- Half of 14
- Half of 20
- Write one half as a fraction.
- Shade half of a bar.
Level 2: Grow
- Half of 4 = ___.
- Half of 18 = ___.
- Two halves make ___.
Level 3: Stretch
- Half of 30 = ___.
- A rope is 40 m. It is cut in half. How long is each piece?
- Ali says half of 10 is 20. What is wrong?
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: everyday mathematics
A rope 20 m long is cut in half. How long is each piece?
Show a sample answer
10 m.
Another one. 16 children are in a class. Half are girls. How many girls?
Show a sample answer
8
7. Common mistakes
Fix: A half needs 2 equal parts.
Fix: Half is smaller. Divide by 2.
Fix: Halves must be equal.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can say that a half is one of two equal parts.
- I can write 1/2.
- I can find half of a number.
- I can see that two halves make a whole.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- A half is 1 of 2 equal parts.
- Write 1/2.
- Two halves make a whole.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Thirds. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- What is half of 8? [1 mark]
- What is half of 18? [1 mark]
- Write one half as a fraction. [1 mark]
- A rope 30 m long is cut in half. How long is each piece? [2 marks]
- Ben says half of 12 is 24. Is he right? Explain. [3 marks]
Total: 8 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- 4 [1]
- 9 [1]
- 1/2 [1]
- 30 ÷ 2 [1] = 15 m [1]
- No [1]. Half is smaller than the whole [1]. Half of 12 is 6 [1].
Score guide: 7 to 8 = secure. 5 to 6 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 5 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- Half of 6
- Half of 14
- Half of 20
- Write one half.
- Two halves make?
- Half of 10 = ___.
- Half of 14 = ___.
- Half of 20 = ___.
- Two halves make ___.
- How is one half written?
Homework
Cut a fruit in half at home. Find half of a group of 12 beans.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Half of 6 | 3 | 2 |
| Half of 14 | 7 | 2 |
| Half of 20 | 10 | 2 |
| Write one half. | 1/2 | 2 |
| Two halves make? | 1 whole | 2 |
| Total | 10 |
Practice answers: Worksheet: 1 3; 2 7; 3 10; 4 1/2; 5 1 whole.
Quiz answers: 1 A, 2 B, 3 C, 4 A, 5 B, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 C, Challenge 2 C.
Extra worksheet answers (items 6 onward): 6 5; 7 7; 8 10; 9 1 whole; 10 1/2.
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 3; 2 7; 3 10; 4 1/2; 5 shade one of two equal parts. Level 2: 1 2; 2 9; 3 1 whole. Level 3: 1 15; 2 20 m; 3 Half is smaller than the whole. Half of 10 is 5..
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Say that a half is one of two equal parts | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Write the fraction 1/2 | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Find half of a number of objects | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 See that two halves make a whole | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: Cutting into 2 unequal parts. A half needs 2 equal parts.
- Explain another way: use real objects first, then pictures.
- Show a simpler example: Fold a strip in half and shade one part.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child learns about halves and finds half of a number. You do not need to be good at mathematics to help.
- Cut an apple in half and talk about it.
- Ask: half of 12 is how many?
- Share sweets equally between two.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: say that a half is one of two equal parts; write the fraction 1/2; find half of a number of objects; see that two halves make a whole.
Prerequisite knowledge. Lesson 1.
Materials. Counters (stones, seeds or bottle tops), paper, pencils, board or chalkboard. Low-resource options: use stones, seeds, sticks, bottle tops or drawings in the sand or on the board instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Gather the counters and draw the example pictures on the board before the lesson.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Start with the Discover situation and let learners suggest ideas before you teach.
Explanation (10 min). Teach the Understand section with real objects first, then pictures, then symbols and words.
Guided activity (10 min). You need 12 counters. Learners follow the Explore steps in pairs.
Independent activity (10 min). Learners complete the independent practice and the worksheet.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. How many equal parts? What is half? How do you find it?
Teacher explanation notes. Use the concrete, pictorial, abstract order: real objects first, then pictures, then symbols and words. Return to real objects whenever a learner needs support.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use real objects and work with a partner; say each step aloud together. Extension. Ask learners to make up their own example and explain it to a partner.
Formative assessment. Listen to learner explanations, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. Cutting into 2 unequal parts. A half needs 2 equal parts.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz and worksheet on this page. The 8-mark exam practice scheme, the 10-mark scheme and all answers are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer and the marking scheme before publication.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Fold a strip in half and shade one part. Enrichment. Invite learners to find or create three more examples at home or in the classroom and explain them. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which concepts learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points named in the Courseversity standard: Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, Cambridge Primary and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Official standards for this topic area. Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (official site): Grade 2 » Geometry. These pages list the standards that cover this topic area; read them alongside the lesson.
Research used to shape this lesson. Common Core 2.G.A.3 and 3.NF.A.1 (halves); Cambridge Primary Mathematics Stage 2. These sources informed the lesson.