Maths Library

Halves and Quarters of Shapes and Sets: Year 3 maths

Young learners recognise and shade one-half and one-quarter of basic 2D shapes and discrete sets. The tasks develop foundational geometric and sharing concepts using visual models.

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What this covers

Halves and Quarters of Shapes and Sets is taught in Year 3 (age 8 to 9) as a topic to introduce. It sits in the Fractions strand.

Worked example

A shape is split into 4 equal parts. If 1 part is shaded, what fraction is shaded

  1. Count the total number of equal parts: 4
  2. Count the number of shaded parts: 1
  3. Express as a fraction: 14

Answer: 14

Difficulty scale

The sheet generator offers five difficulty settings for this topic.

  1. Identify shapes divided into two equal parts (halves)
  2. Colour or identify 12 of symmetric regular shapes
  3. Recognise and shade 14 of regular shapes divided into four equal regions
  4. Find 12 and 14 of small groups of discrete objects up to 12
  5. Identify 24 and 34 of shapes or distinguish equal from unequal partitions

Common mistakes

  • Ignoring whether parts are equal, calling any shape split into two pieces 'halves'
  • Confusing the denominator with the number of unshaded parts

Curriculum links

Indicative matches to Australian Curriculum v9. Check wording and codes against the official document.

  • AC9M3N04 Represent unit fractions including halves, quarters, thirds, and fifths on a number line and as parts of a whole.

Sample sheet and answers

Six questions at the level's usual difficulty. Open the editor to change, add or regenerate any of them.

Halves and Quarters of Shapes and Sets

Year 3 maths

Qs
6
Marks
12
NameDateScore / 12
1.
What fraction of the shape is shaded?
[2]
2.
What fraction of the shape is shaded?
[2]
3.
What fraction of the shape is shaded?
[2]
4.
What fraction of the shape is shaded?
[2]
5.
What fraction of the shape is shaded?
[2]
6.
What fraction of the shape is shaded?
[2]

Answer key

  1. 38The shape has 8 equal parts and 3 are shaded; 3 out of 8 is 3/8
  2. 45The shape has 5 equal parts and 4 are shaded; 4 out of 5 is 4/5
  3. 26The shape has 6 equal parts and 2 are shaded; 2 out of 6 is 2/6
  4. 28The shape has 8 equal parts and 2 are shaded; 2 out of 8 is 2/8
  5. 710The shape has 10 equal parts and 7 are shaded; 7 out of 10 is 7/10
  6. 18The shape has 8 equal parts and 1 are shaded; 1 out of 8 is 1/8