MAFS.3.G.1.2Archived Standard

Partition shapes into parts with equal areas. Express the area of each part as a unit fraction of the whole. For example, partition a shape into 4 parts with equal area, and describe the area of each part as 1/4 of the area of the shape.
General Information
Subject Area: Mathematics
Grade: 3
Domain-Subdomain: Geometry
Cluster: Level 1: Recall
Cluster: Reason with shapes and their attributes. (Supporting Cluster) -

Clusters should not be sorted from Major to Supporting and then taught in that order. To do so would strip the coherence of the mathematical ideas and miss the opportunity to enhance the major work of the grade with the supporting clusters.

Date Adopted or Revised: 02/14
Content Complexity Rating: Level 1: Recall - More Information
Date of Last Rating: 02/14
Status: State Board Approved - Archived
Assessed: Yes
Test Item Specifications
    Assessed with:
    MAFS.3.NF.1.1

Sample Test Items (1)
  • Test Item #: Sample Item 1
  • Question:

    A triangle representing one whole is shown.

    Complete the sentences to make true statements about the triangle. For each blank, fill in the circle before the word or phrase that is correct.

    The parts of the triangle have A. equal areas since they are A. the same size.

       B. unequal       B. different sizes.

     

    The area of each part is A. one-fourth.

       B. unknown.

  • Difficulty: N/A
  • Type: ETC: Editing Task Choice

Related Courses

This benchmark is part of these courses.
5012050: Grade Three Mathematics (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
7712040: Access Mathematics Grade 3 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2018, 2018 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
5001040: Art – Intermediate 1 (Specifically in versions: 2014 - 2015, 2015 - 2019, 2019 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
5020100: STEM Lab Grade 3 (Specifically in versions: 2016 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
7701035: Access Art Grade 3 (Specifically in versions: 2018 - 2019, 2019 - 2023, 2023 and beyond (current))
5012055: Grade 3 Accelerated Mathematics (Specifically in versions: 2019 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))
5012015: Foundational Skills in Mathematics 3-5 (Specifically in versions: 2019 - 2022, 2022 and beyond (current))

Related Access Points

Alternate version of this benchmark for students with significant cognitive disabilities.

Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Formative Assessments

Unit Fractions:

Students divide a hexagon into two, three, and six equal parts and write the unit fraction representing each part.

Type: Formative Assessment

Two Equal Parts:

Students divide figures into two parts, each having the same area, and write the unit fraction representing each part.

Type: Formative Assessment

Halves of an Irregular Polygon:

Students partition an irregular hexagon into two equal parts and describe each part using a unit fraction.

Type: Formative Assessment

Four Parts of the Whole:

Students partition a rectangle into four equal parts and describe each part using a fraction.

Type: Formative Assessment

Lesson Plans

Best Vegetable Garden:

The students will plan a vegetable garden, deciding which kinds of vegetables to plant, how many plants of each kind will fit, and where each plant will be planted in a fixed-area garden design. Then they will revise their design based on new garden dimensions and additional plant options.  Students will explore the concept of area to plan their garden and they will practice solving 1 and 2-step real-world problems using the four operations to develop their ideas.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.

Type: Lesson Plan

Mystery Strips - Fractional Parts of the Whole:

This problem-solving lesson has students working together in groups to discover that fractions are made up of equal parts of one-whole. In this lesson, students are exposed to equivalent fractions as well as challenged to work beyond unit fractions to discover the fractional part of one-whole that the "mystery strips" represent. This highly engaging lesson takes into account all levels of learners and will challenge even your most advanced students.

Type: Lesson Plan

Discovering Fractions:

In this lesson students will make initial discoveries about fractions. Students will work together to explain and record the discoveries they make while using manipulatives to explore fractions.

Type: Lesson Plan

Fractions Meet Pattern Blocks:

Students will identify the fractional parts of a whole using pattern blocks. There is a focus on unit fractions.

Type: Lesson Plan

Fraction Counting Book:

Students will make a book of fractions by counting by a specified denominator. They will represent the fractions as pictures, in number form, word form, and on a number line.

Type: Lesson Plan

Fraction Folding - Part 2:

Students will use foldables to create and name fractions. Students will sing a song to learn the terms numerator and denominator. Students will identify how many unit fractions compose a fraction.

Type: Lesson Plan

Fraction Folding-Part 1:

In this lesson, students will build the understanding of unit fractions. They will differentiate examples and non-examples of fractional parts of squares. They will label unit fractions and describe unit fractions as those that “build” other fractions.

Type: Lesson Plan

Presentation/Slideshow

Fractions:

This is an accessible, easy-to-read book introducing fractions. It can be downloaded in PowerPoint, Impress, and Flash formats. For struggling or non-readers the book can be read aloud in a variety of voices. All of the books on the Tar Heel Reader site can be used with the Intellikeys keyboard with a custom overlay, a touch screen, and/or 1-3 switches. The text and background colors can be modified for students with visual impairments.

Type: Presentation/Slideshow

Problem-Solving Tasks

Representing Half of a Circle:

This task continues "Which pictures represent half of a circle?" moving into more complex shapes where geometric arguments about cutting or work using simple equivalences of fractions is required to analyze the picture. In order for students to be successful with this task, they need to understand that area is additive.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Geometric pictures of one half:

This task presents students with some creative geometric ways to represent the fraction one half. The goal is both to appeal to students' visual intuition while also providing a hands on activity to decide whether or not two areas are equal. In order for students to be successful with this task, they need to understand that area is additive.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Virtual Manipulatives

Exploring Fractions:

Match shapes and numbers to earn stars in this fractions game.

  • Match fractions using numbers and pictures
  • make the same fractions using different numbers
  • Match fractions in different picture patterns
  • Compare fractions using numbers and patterns

Type: Virtual Manipulative

Fraction Models:

An interactive tool to represent a fraction circle, rectangle, or set model with numerators and denominators ranging from 1 to 100. The decimal and percent equivalents of the created fraction are also displayed.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

STEM Lessons - Model Eliciting Activity

Best Vegetable Garden:

The students will plan a vegetable garden, deciding which kinds of vegetables to plant, how many plants of each kind will fit, and where each plant will be planted in a fixed-area garden design. Then they will revise their design based on new garden dimensions and additional plant options.  Students will explore the concept of area to plan their garden and they will practice solving 1 and 2-step real-world problems using the four operations to develop their ideas.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.

MFAS Formative Assessments

Four Parts of the Whole:

Students partition a rectangle into four equal parts and describe each part using a fraction.

Halves of an Irregular Polygon:

Students partition an irregular hexagon into two equal parts and describe each part using a unit fraction.

Two Equal Parts:

Students divide figures into two parts, each having the same area, and write the unit fraction representing each part.

Unit Fractions:

Students divide a hexagon into two, three, and six equal parts and write the unit fraction representing each part.

Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Presentation/Slideshow

Fractions:

This is an accessible, easy-to-read book introducing fractions. It can be downloaded in PowerPoint, Impress, and Flash formats. For struggling or non-readers the book can be read aloud in a variety of voices. All of the books on the Tar Heel Reader site can be used with the Intellikeys keyboard with a custom overlay, a touch screen, and/or 1-3 switches. The text and background colors can be modified for students with visual impairments.

Type: Presentation/Slideshow

Problem-Solving Tasks

Representing Half of a Circle:

This task continues "Which pictures represent half of a circle?" moving into more complex shapes where geometric arguments about cutting or work using simple equivalences of fractions is required to analyze the picture. In order for students to be successful with this task, they need to understand that area is additive.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Geometric pictures of one half:

This task presents students with some creative geometric ways to represent the fraction one half. The goal is both to appeal to students' visual intuition while also providing a hands on activity to decide whether or not two areas are equal. In order for students to be successful with this task, they need to understand that area is additive.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Virtual Manipulative

Exploring Fractions:

Match shapes and numbers to earn stars in this fractions game.

  • Match fractions using numbers and pictures
  • make the same fractions using different numbers
  • Match fractions in different picture patterns
  • Compare fractions using numbers and patterns

Type: Virtual Manipulative

Parent Resources

Vetted resources caregivers can use to help students learn the concepts and skills in this benchmark.

Presentation/Slideshow

Fractions:

This is an accessible, easy-to-read book introducing fractions. It can be downloaded in PowerPoint, Impress, and Flash formats. For struggling or non-readers the book can be read aloud in a variety of voices. All of the books on the Tar Heel Reader site can be used with the Intellikeys keyboard with a custom overlay, a touch screen, and/or 1-3 switches. The text and background colors can be modified for students with visual impairments.

Type: Presentation/Slideshow

Problem-Solving Tasks

Representing Half of a Circle:

This task continues "Which pictures represent half of a circle?" moving into more complex shapes where geometric arguments about cutting or work using simple equivalences of fractions is required to analyze the picture. In order for students to be successful with this task, they need to understand that area is additive.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Geometric pictures of one half:

This task presents students with some creative geometric ways to represent the fraction one half. The goal is both to appeal to students' visual intuition while also providing a hands on activity to decide whether or not two areas are equal. In order for students to be successful with this task, they need to understand that area is additive.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Virtual Manipulative

Exploring Fractions:

Match shapes and numbers to earn stars in this fractions game.

  • Match fractions using numbers and pictures
  • make the same fractions using different numbers
  • Match fractions in different picture patterns
  • Compare fractions using numbers and patterns

Type: Virtual Manipulative