Constructing Halves

The construction team is building a school! They need to get their materials ready before they start building. Let’s help them!

Here are some of the materials they will use to build the school. The team wants to divide these items into halves. We make halves when we partition a whole into two equal parts. We can do this by drawing a line down the middle of the item. We can draw the line from top to bottom or from side to side.

We use the number 1/2 to show halves. It is a quick way to show that the pieces we have are halves. We can write 1/2 like this or like this. It means the same thing!

The team needs to divide this brick into halves. Let’s draw a line to help them!

Did we make halves? Not quite! Remember, we need to have two equal parts. These parts are unequal. Let’s try again!

Yes! We have two equal parts. This brick is ready for the team!

Now we need to divide this cement circle into halves.

Does this circle show halves? Oops! We made three equal parts instead of two. Let’s try again!

What about now? Yes, we have halves. This cement circle has two equal parts. It is ready for the team to use!

We have two items left! Here is a square of wood. Can we divide this square into halves?

That’s too many parts! This square has 4 equal parts. Let’s try again!

Yes! This square of wood has two equal parts. The team can use this to build the school!

One more item! A glass pentagon. Can we divide this in half for the team?

Hmm, this isn’t right. The pieces are unequal.

That’s better! The pentagon now has two equal parts. It is ready for the team!

Thank you for your help dividing the building materials in half! The team is ready to build the school.