Doubles and Halves
This topic covers 3 learning steps, guiding your child from the basics through to confident problem-solving. Each step includes a worked example and adaptive practice questions.
What Your Child Will Learn
- Doubles to 5+5
Double numbers 1-5 - Doubles to 10+10
Double numbers 6-10 - Halves of even numbers
Find half of an even number to 20
Common Mistakes
- Thinking "half" means "any two parts" rather than two EQUAL parts (e.g. breaking a chocolate bar unevenly and calling each piece "a half")
Halves must be equal. Cut things in front of your child and ask "Are these two pieces the same size?" Only equal pieces are true halves. - Not seeing the connection between doubling and halving (treating them as completely separate skills)
Doubling and halving are opposites — like adding and subtracting. If double 6 is 12, then half of 12 must be 6. Practise going both directions.
Tips for Parents
- Share food equally: "Let's halve this sandwich — one piece for you, one for me. Are they the same size?"
- Play "Double Trouble" — say a number and challenge your child to double it as fast as they can. Start with numbers up to 5, then build up.
- Use mirrors: put 3 toys in front of a mirror and count the reflection. "3 toys plus their doubles makes 6!" This makes doubling visual.
- When cooking, ask your child to double small quantities: "The recipe says 2 eggs — we need double. How many?"
Key Words
- Double — Two of the same number added together — double 5 is 10.
- Half — One of two equal parts — half of 8 is 4.
- Equal — The same amount or size.
- Twice — Two times as many — another word for double.
Where This Fits
Before this topic: Children should be comfortable with addition within 20 and understand the concept of equal groups.
After this topic: Doubles and halves lead into multiplication (as repeated addition of equal groups) and early fractions work in Years 2 and 3.
How MathCraft Teaches This
In MathCraft, Doubles and Halves is taught through the Number & Fractions adventure track. Your child follows guided lessons with friendly characters, works through examples step by step, then practises with questions that adapt to their level.
The adaptive engine tracks mastery across all 3 steps, revisiting concepts your child finds tricky and advancing when they're ready. Parents can see detailed progress in the Parent Dashboard.
Practise Doubles and Halves with MathCraft
Step-by-step lessons, worked examples, and adaptive practice — all wrapped in an adventure game your child will love.
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