What Is a Half?
Recognise, find, and name a half as one of two equal parts of an object, shape, or quantity
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Teaching Table · Reviewed guide
Set out your lesson
“A half is one of two equal parts. If the parts are not the same size, they are not halves. We can fold a shape into two equal pieces or share a set into two equal groups.”
Bring to the table
- 2 paper rectangles or napkins for folding
- 8 large counters or blocks
- One unequal split example (fold or draw one part clearly larger)
Full guide and materials
- 2 paper rectangles or napkins for folding
- 8 large counters or blocks
- One unequal split example (fold or draw one part clearly larger)
- Step 1. Fold one rectangle into two equal parts. Open it and name each part “a half.”
- Step 2. Show the unequal split and ask whether those parts are halves. Agree they are not, because they are not equal.
- Step 3. Share 8 counters into two groups until each group has 4. Say “half of 8 is 4.”
- Step 4. Have your child fold a second shape into halves independently and point to one half.
- Quick check. Success means your child folds or identifies one shape split into two equal parts, rejects one unequal split, and finds half of 8 objects as two groups of 4.
Worked example. Sandwich cut into two matching pieces → each piece is a half. 8 blocks shared as 4 and 4 → half of 8 is 4. A big piece and a tiny piece are not halves.
Optional challenge. Find half of 6 and half of 10 with objects, and explain how you know the groups are equal.
What to notice. Save a photo of the folded half and the two groups of 4, or a parent note: “half of 8 = 4; unequal split rejected.”
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Teaching approaches
Gakuva’s recommended starting approach is selected. You can still compare every option.
1 approach
A half is one of two equal parts. If the parts are not the same size, they are not halves. We can fold a shape into two equal pieces or share a set into two equal groups.
Spend about 10 minutes folding equal halves, rejecting an unequal split, and sharing 8 objects into two equal groups.
Family records and proof options
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Learning resources
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Check understanding
- Fold a shape into two equal parts and identify each as 'a half'
- Find half of 8 objects by sharing into 2 equal groups
- Identify whether a shape has been divided into halves or not (equal vs unequal parts)
“If your child is helping share a sandwich equally between two people, can they cut it so both pieces are the same size — and tell you each piece is called a half?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Conceptual
- Subject
- Mathematics
- Domain
- Fractions
- Age range
- Ages 5–6
Standards