---
title: "Splitting shapes into equal parts (age 7+)"
description: "Partition circles and rectangles into two, three, or four equal shares; describe shares as halves, thirds, and fourths; recognise that equal shares of identical wholes need not have the same shape"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/splitting-shapes-into-equal-parts-age-7-mt_Xp-rj46S2w
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/splitting-shapes-into-equal-parts-age-7-mt_Xp-rj46S2w.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Splitting shapes into equal parts (age 7+)

Partition circles and rectangles into two, three, or four equal shares; describe shares as halves, thirds, and fourths; recognise that equal shares of identical wholes need not have the same shape

Subject: Mathematics · Area: Fractions · Ages 7 to 8
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/splitting-shapes-into-equal-parts-age-7-mt_Xp-rj46S2w

## Ready when they can

- Partition a circle into 3 equal parts and label each 'a third'
- Partition a rectangle into 4 equal shares in more than one way
- Explain that two different-looking shares can still be equal in size

## Lesson: Cutting shapes into equal shares

You already know how to split shapes into halves and quarters. Now you can split them into thirds too. No matter how many parts you make, every part must be exactly the same size.

*(drawing: This circle is split into 3 equal parts. Each part is a third.)*

**Example.** Mia cuts a rectangle into 4 equal strips. Each strip is the same size, so each one is called a fourth.

There is more than one way to cut a rectangle into fourths. You could draw 4 strips, or 4 small squares. The pieces look different, but each one takes up the same amount of the same rectangle, so both ways give fourths. To check any cut, count the parts first, then check that every part is the same size.

**Recap.** Equal shares can look different, but if every part is the same size, the fraction name stays the same.

## Practice

12 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Decomposing a shape into more equal shares](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/decomposing-a-shape-into-more-equal-shares-mt_hyvHv2BCwb)
- [Halves & Quarters of Shapes](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/halves-and-quarters-of-shapes-mt_xACS3rWWDp)

## Opens up

- [Fractions as parts of shapes](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/fractions-as-parts-of-shapes-mt_idbKDrf9qZ)
- [Fractions of a whole](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/fractions-of-a-whole-mt_ndGqFPWyen)