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Maths Adventures

Ocean maths quest: fractions

A story-led junior maths adventure using reefs, ships and underwater maps to split food, maps and treasure into equal parts.

Quick answer

Fractions are parts of a whole, like sharing a pizza or splitting treasure equally among friends. In Ocean Maths Quest, you'll learn how to split things into equal parts using fractions!

Learning outcome

By the end of this Ocean Maths Quest, you will be able to split objects or amounts into equal parts and show these parts as fractions. Success signs:
  • You can identify what fraction a part is of a whole
  • You can draw and share objects into equal parts
  • You can solve simple fraction problems using real-life examples
  • You can explain how to share things fairly using fractions

Why this matters

Fractions help you share food, divide treasure, and split maps fairly with friends. Whether you're sharing a birthday cake, splitting a treasure map, or sharing underwater snacks with your sea friends, fractions help you make sure everyone gets a fair share. In Ocean Maths Quest, you'll learn how to split things equally so everyone is happy!

How it works

Fractions are made of two numbers:
  • The top number (numerator) shows how many parts you have
  • The bottom number (denominator) shows how many equal parts the whole is divided into
When you split something into equal parts, you create fractions. For example, if you split a fish into 4 equal pieces, each piece is 1/4 of the whole fish.

Examples you can see

Let's go on an Ocean Maths Quest adventure together! Example 1: Sharing a treasure map Captain Coral has a treasure map that she wants to share equally among 4 crew members. She splits the map into 4 equal parts. Each person gets 1/4 of the map.
Whole Map Split into 4 equal parts Each person gets
🍕 🍕🍕🍕🍕 1/4 of the map
Example 2: Sharing underwater snacks Sharky the shark finds 8 jellyfish. He wants to share them equally with his 3 friends. They each get 2 jellyfish, which is 2/8 of the total jellyfish.
Total jellyfish Split among 4 sharks Each shark gets
8 jellyfish 4 equal groups 2 jellyfish (2/8 of total)
Example 3: Dividing a coral reef A coral reef is divided into 6 equal sections. A sea turtle wants to explore 2 sections. That's 2/6 of the reef.
Whole reef Split into 6 parts Turtle explores
🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨 🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨🟨 2/6 of the reef

Try it as a mini adventure

Ocean Maths Quest: The Great Reef Sharing You are Captain Coral, and you've found a treasure chest full of 12 gold coins. You want to share them equally among your 3 sea friends: a parrotfish, a clownfish, and a seahorse. Step 1: How many coins does each friend get? Step 2: What fraction of the coins does each friend get? Step 3: Draw a picture showing how you split the coins. Step 4: What fraction of the treasure is left for you?
  1. 12 coins ÷ 3 friends = 4 coins each
  2. Each friend gets 4/12 of the treasure
  3. Draw 12 coins split into 3 equal groups of 4 coins each
  4. You keep 4/12 of the treasure (or 1/3 when simplified)

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Thinking 1/2 is bigger than 1/4 because 2 is bigger than 4 Why it happens: Children often compare the numbers in fractions without thinking about the size of the parts Fix: Use real objects like pizza slices or chocolate bars to show that 1/4 is smaller than 1/2
  • Mistake: Counting the parts incorrectly when splitting things Why it happens: Children may not understand that all parts must be equal in size Fix: Use physical objects and check that each part is exactly the same size
  • Mistake: Confusing numerator and denominator Why it happens: The position of numbers in a fraction can be confusing Fix: Practice saying "1 out of 4 parts" to remember the numerator is the part you have

Parent and carer guide

How to help your child on this Ocean Maths Quest:
  • Use everyday examples like sharing cookies, dividing a pizza, or splitting a bag of fruit
  • Ask questions like "If we split this cake into 3 equal pieces, what fraction is each piece?"
  • Draw fraction pictures together - it helps children visualize the parts
  • Play fraction games with food, blocks, or cards
  • Don't worry if they make mistakes - fractions take time to understand
  • Practice counting in halves, quarters, and thirds regularly
What to watch for:
  • Does your child understand that parts must be equal?
  • Can they identify the numerator and denominator?
  • Do they understand that larger denominators mean smaller parts?

Practice questions

  1. Split 10 fish into 5 equal groups. What fraction does each group represent?
  2. How many equal parts is a pizza cut into if each slice is 1/8 of the whole?
  3. If 12 seashells are shared equally among 4 friends, what fraction does each friend get?
  4. Draw a rectangle divided into 6 equal parts. Shade 3 parts. What fraction is shaded?
  5. Split 15 starfish into 3 equal groups. What fraction does each group represent?
Answers:
  1. Each group gets 2 fish, which is 2/10 or 1/5 of the total
  2. The pizza is cut into 8 equal parts
  3. Each friend gets 3 seashells, which is 3/12 or 1/4 of the total
  4. 3/6 or 1/2 of the rectangle is shaded
  5. Each group gets 5 starfish, which is 5/15 or 1/3 of the total

FAQ

What is a fraction?

A fraction is a way to show part of a whole. It tells us how many parts we have compared to how many equal parts the whole is divided into.

How do I read fractions?

You read fractions by saying the numerator (top number) first, then "out of" and then the denominator (bottom number). For example, 3/4 is "three out of four parts".

Can I make fractions smaller?

Yes! You can simplify fractions by dividing both the numerator and denominator by the same number. For example, 4/8 can be simplified to 1/2.

Why do we need fractions?

Fractions help us share things fairly, measure ingredients for recipes, and understand parts of a whole in many real-life situations.

How can I practice fractions at home?

Share food with family, divide a pizza or cake into equal parts, or use fraction games and apps to practice splitting things into equal groups.