HALF - 1. To break a whole into two equal parts (pieces). 2. One of the pieces created when a whole is divided equally into two parts.
Have you ever noticed that the moment a child shares his/her first bag of M&Ms, they are magically able to do division? Ask your child if they would like to share a treat, say a cookie, with you. If you only give them a crumb, you can bet they will protest that it's not big enough. What are they really trying to say?
Serving meals and snacks family style creates the best opportunity for your child to use the math skill of division. Ask your child if they would like half of a food they like (not to encourage the consumption of junk food, but somehow, the answer will be different if you use broccoli). Most likely, they will say, "yes"! Now you have to help them define what half is. Guide them through the process with questions like "how big should your half be?", "how big should my half be?", and finally, "should they be the same size?". Ah! Now you have the opportunity to show them half of an apple, half of a square, half of a cup, half of an hour. They may be comforted to know that a half is a half, no matter what is being divided.
At a different snack time you can bring out three crackers to share between the two of you. You get one, I get one, and what about the third? You guessed it, each of us should get one whole cracker and one half of a cracker!
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