Mathematics K–6 · Kindergarten
Fair shares: dealing a collection into equal groups
Number and algebra
The idea
Sharing one at a time gives every group the same number, and sometimes some are left over.
Safety card
Hazards
- small pieces are a choking hazard
Controls
- supervise and count pieces back in
Note
No chemicals or heat are used, so the NSW Department of Education Chemical Safety in Schools package is not needed; ordinary classroom supervision under the school's usual risk management.
What you need
- 12 counters or dried pasta pieces
- 4 paper plates
- a recording sheet with a plate drawn for each group
How to do it
- Set out 3 plates. Deal 12 counters one at a time, one to each plate in turn, until none are left. Count each plate.
- Collect the counters and deal them onto 4 plates. Count each plate.
- Deal 10 counters onto 3 plates. Stop when there are not enough to give every plate one more. Count each plate and the leftovers.
- Draw each result: the number on every plate and any leftovers.
- Say each result in words, for example 12 shared between 3 is 4 each.
What you should see
12 counters onto 3 plates gives 4 on each plate; onto 4 plates gives 3 each. 10 counters onto 3 plates gives 3 each with 1 left over, and the child can explain why the last one cannot be shared fairly. Every plate has the same count whenever the dealing goes round in full turns.
What changes
This activity lists no variables to change, measure and keep the same.
Common misconceptions
Each of these ideas is wrong, and the activity is a chance to test it.
- A fair share means everyone gets some, not the same number.
- Sharing always uses up every piece.
Curriculum references
The NSW syllabus outcomes and Australian Curriculum v9 codes this activity supports. They are references, not a verified or complete curriculum alignment.
Sources
The pages the author read to write this activity.