Page 33 - Six_Bricks_Activity_Mats_Teacher_Guide

Let’s look at candles. Place the 4 bricks back on the cake. How many candles are on cake
D? (8+8+8+8=32 Or 4 X 8 = 32).

We can now explore and demonstrate fractions of quantities. What is 1/4 of 32? (1 out of
4 equal parts of 32 is 8. This can be demonstrated by removing 1 of the 4 bricks (1/4) and
that equates to removing 8 candles. 1/4 of 32 = 8.

What is 2/4 of 32? What is 3/4 of 32? Is 2/4 of 32 equal to 1/2 of 32? Explain.

Ask the children to make oral statements about Cake D while using their Six Bricks.

Child 1: “Cake D is divided into 4 equal parts. Each part is 1/4.”
Child 2: “I can see that 2 quarters is the same as 1 half.”
Child 3: “There are 32 candles on the cake.”
Child 4: “Half of 32 is 16 and half of 16 is 8.” Ask the child to explain that.
Child 5: “If there are 32 candles, then 3 out of the 4 slices has 24 candles.” Ask the child to
explain that.

The children making statements can continue like this. Teacher, through quality questioning
can elicit further engagement, mathematical reasoning, concept discussion, usage of

mathematical language and terms etc.

Teaching point
This A3 Mat and Six Bricks provide the rich practical context in which to talk, discuss, do
and problem solve in mathematics across fractions, decimals and percentages. This mat
can be used to lay down many concept understandings.

Follow and repeat these type of procedures and discussion points while exploring
percentages or decimals across the divisions associated with each of the cakes.

The Fractions/Decimals/Percentages Wall is featured in the toolkit4maths, which you

can access at www.toolkit4maths.com, where there are full teacher notes. The fraction
wall from the Toolkit4maths is an essential visual support to understanding fractions,
equivalence of fractions, along with percentages and decimals, and the interchanges
between all three.

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Six Bricks Activity Mats Teacher Guide.indd 33
Six Bricks Activity Mats Teacher Guide.indd 33 16-06-2021 21:37:44