You will learn
- Say that a quarter is one of four equal parts.
- Write the fraction 1/4.
- Find a quarter of a group.
- See that two quarters make a half.
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 quarter is one of four equal parts.
- We write one quarter as 1/4.
- To find a quarter, share into 4 equal groups.
- Two quarters make a half. Four quarters make a whole.
Words to know
One of four equal parts.
The way to write one quarter.
Two quarters.
Four quarters.
1. Discover: four sharers
Four children share a pawpaw fairly. How much of the pawpaw does each child get?
2. Understand: quarters
When a whole is cut into 4 equal parts, each part is a quarter, written 1/4. Four quarters make one whole.
Two quarters make one half. A quarter of 8 is 2. A quarter of 12 is 3. A quarter of 20 is 5.
Idea 1: One quarter
A quarter is one of four equal parts. We write it as 1/4. The 4 says the whole is split into 4 equal parts.
Idea 2: A quarter of a number
To find 1/4 of 8, share 8 into 4 equal groups: 8 ÷ 4 = 2.
Idea 3: Quarters and halves
Two quarters make a half. Four quarters make a whole.
Why? A half cut into two equal parts gives two quarters.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): A quarter of 8
1/4 of 8 = ?
- 8 ÷ 4.
Answer: 2
Example 2 (We do it together): A quarter of 16
1/4 of 16 = ?
- 16 ÷ 4 = 4.
Answer: 4
Example 3 (You try): Quarters make
How many quarters make a whole?
Show the steps and answer
- Four equal parts make a whole.
Answer: 4
Did you know?
A quarter of an hour is 15 minutes. The clock shows quarter past, quarter to.
Why this matters
Quarters help us share between four and read the time.
4. Explore: fold in four
You need a square paper.
- Fold it in half, then in half again.
- Open it. How many equal parts?
- Shade one part: 1/4.
- Shade two parts and compare with a half.
Think about it: what did you notice?
4 equal parts; 2 quarters = 1 half.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- A quarter of ___ is ___.
- One quarter is written ___.
- Two quarters make ___.
- Four quarters make ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. 1/4 of 8?
2.
Question 2. 1/4 of 12?
3.
Question 3. 2 quarters make?
1 half.
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- 1/4 of 4
- 1/4 of 16
- 1/4 of 20
- 4 quarters make?
- Write one quarter.
Level 2: Grow
- 1/4 of 28 = ___.
- 1/4 of 32 = ___.
- Which is bigger, a half of 8 or a quarter of 8?
Level 3: Stretch
- A rope 36 m long is cut into quarters. How long is each piece?
- 1/4 of 100 = ___.
- Sade says 1/4 of 12 is 8 because 12 − 4. What is wrong?
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: everyday mathematics
A rope 40 m long is cut into 4 equal parts. How long is one part?
Show a sample answer
10 m.
Another one. 20 sweets are shared equally among 4 children. What fraction does each get? How many sweets?
Show a sample answer
1/4; 5 sweets
7. Common mistakes
Fix: A quarter needs 4 equal parts.
Fix: Divide by 4.
Fix: Quarters must be equal.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can say that a quarter is one of four equal parts.
- I can write 1/4.
- I can find a quarter of a group.
- I can see that two quarters make a half.
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 quarter is 1 of 4 equal parts.
- Write 1/4.
- Two quarters make a half.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Recognising unit fractions. 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 1/4 of 12? [1 mark]
- What is 1/4 of 40? [1 mark]
- How many quarters make a whole? [1 mark]
- A cake is cut into 4 equal slices. You eat 2. What other fraction is that? [2 marks]
- Ali says 1/4 of 20 is 16. Is he right? Explain. [3 marks]
Total: 8 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- 3 [1]
- 10 [1]
- 4 [1]
- 2 quarters [1]; a half [1]
- No [1]. A quarter means divide by 4 [1]. 20 ÷ 4 = 5 [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
- 1/4 of 4
- 1/4 of 16
- 1/4 of 20
- 4 quarters make?
- Write one quarter.
- 1/4 of 8 = ___.
- 1/4 of 12 = ___.
- 2 quarters make ___.
- 4 quarters make ___.
- Write one quarter.
Homework
Fold a paper into quarters and colour one part. Show it at home.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 of 4 | 1 | 2 |
| 1/4 of 16 | 4 | 2 |
| 1/4 of 20 | 5 | 2 |
| 4 quarters make? | 1 whole | 2 |
| Write one quarter. | 1/4 | 2 |
| Total | 10 |
Practice answers: Worksheet: 1 1; 2 4; 3 5; 4 1 whole; 5 1/4.
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 2; 7 3; 8 a half; 9 a whole; 10 1/4.
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 1; 2 4; 3 5; 4 1 whole; 5 1/4. Level 2: 1 7; 2 8; 3 A half of 8 (4 is more than 2). Level 3: 1 9 m; 2 25; 3 Divide by 4. 12 ÷ 4 = 3..
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Say that a quarter is one of four 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 1/4 | 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 a quarter of a group | 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 quarters make a half | 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: Mixing up quarters with halves. A quarter needs 4 equal parts.
- Explain another way: use real objects first, then pictures.
- Show a simpler example: Fold paper in half twice and count the parts.
- 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 quarters and finds a quarter of a number. You do not need to be good at mathematics to help.
- Cut a roti or paper into quarters.
- Ask: what is a quarter of 20?
- Talk about quarter past on a clock.
- 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 quarter is one of four equal parts; write the fraction 1/4; find a quarter of a group; see that two quarters make a half.
Prerequisite knowledge. Lessons 1 to 3.
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 a square paper. 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 a quarter? 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. Mixing up quarters with halves. A quarter needs 4 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 paper in half twice and count the parts. 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 (quarters); Cambridge Primary Mathematics Stage 2. These sources informed the lesson.