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With this resource, students imagine they are going on a picnic with one other person. The worksheet provides images of a number of different “picnic” foods. Students choose which items they would like to eat, then color and cut them out. For each food, they then decide whether they would eat the whole item or cut it in half to share with the other person. Students then glue their food onto the plate.

Use this resource to reinforce the understanding that one-half is one of two equal parts of a whole. Lead students to discover that some shapes can only be fairly shared when cut one way (e.g., the pear), while others can be halved a number of ways (e.g., the sandwich). In order to cut the items in half fairly accurately, encourage students to fold the item into matching halves before cutting.

Integrate this math activity with a writing activity. Students can write about their picnic on the template provided (which includes vocabulary prompts).

Tips for Differentiation + Scaffolding 

A team of dedicated, experienced educators created this resource to support your math lessons. 

In addition to individual student work time, use this activity to enhance learning through guided math groups, whole class lessons, or remote learning assignments. 

If you have a mixture of above and below-level learners, check out these suggestions for keeping students on track with the concepts: 

🆘 Support Struggling Students

If there are students who need a bit of support, encourage them to complete the activity with a partner or with the support of a teacher. 

➕ Challenge Fast Finishers

For students who need a bit of a challenge, encourage them to complete the more challenging version of this resource, Picnic Fractions (Fourths), which works on understanding quarters. 

Easily Prepare This Resource for Your Students

Use the Download button to access the PDF version of this resource. 

Don’t stop there! We’ve got more activities and resources that cut down on lesson planning time:  

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Halves and Fourths – Cut and Paste Worksheet

Practice sorting objects partitioned into halves and fourths with this cut-and-paste worksheet.

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Funky Fraction Craft Activity (Halves)

Use this craft activity to encourage students to color, match, and discuss two halves of a shape.

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Is It Half? Differentiated Fractions Coloring Sheet

Introduce your students to the concept of halves as well as equal and unequal parts with this fractions coloring sheet.