Teaching fractions to Year 2 students becomes much easier and far more fun when the learning is connected to everyday experiences. One of the best real-life tools for this is pizza. Kids instantly relate to it, which helps them understand key concepts like halves, quarters, and equal parts.
Using pizza in fraction lessons gives students a clear picture of what a whole looks like. Instead of imagining a shape divided into parts, they can see it in real life: one full pizza represents one whole. From there, it becomes simple to show that cutting the pizza into two equal slices creates halves, and cutting it into four equal slices creates quarters. This physical or visual representation helps students grasp that fractions must always be equal parts of a whole.
Pizza also introduces the idea of fair sharing, something Year 2 students are already familiar with. When asked how to share one pizza between two people, children naturally understand that each person should get the same amount. This sets the foundation for understanding that fractions are not just about dividing but dividing fairly.
Tutoring sessions can include hands-on activities, such as using paper pizzas, drawing slices, or even real pizza if available. Students can practise making and naming fractions by pretending they are sharing pizza with friends: “If we cut the pizza into eight slices and you eat one, what fraction is that?” These playful scenarios keep children engaged and help them develop confidence with mathematical language.
Finally, using pizza to teach fractions encourages problem-solving and conversation. Students enjoy discussing how many slices are left, which fraction is bigger, or how many people they could share with. By connecting maths to something meaningful and delicious, learning becomes memorable and students are far more likely to understand and enjoy fractions.

Airi Yamanaka