NCERT Ganita Prakash, Class 7, textbook pages 275–313 (Part 1)

How to teach Class 7 Maths Chapter 8, Working with Fractions, at home

Multiplying and dividing fractions, taught with things you already have at home: a 20-minute activity, a game for the week, a 5-day plan and the mistakes to watch for.

½ × ⅓ = 1/6

NCERT Class 7 Maths Chapter 8 Working with Fractions: what it teaches

If Aaron walks 3 km in an hour, how far in half an hour? Your child multiplies fractions by whole numbers and by fractions, sees products as areas, and divides fractions, including by using reciprocals.

Why it matters later. Fraction operations are used in ratios, percentages (Class 8) and algebra.

See it: this chapter in pictures

3 × ¾= ¾ + ¾ + ¾= 9/4 = 2¼
Repeated addition.
¾ cup, recipe halved½ × ¾= 3/8 cup
Fractions of fractions in the kitchen.
3 ÷ ¼= 3 × 4= 12 glasses
Dividing by a fraction: multiply by its reciprocal.

You need

  • paper squares for area models
  • a ruler
  • recipe cards

Tonight’s 20 minutes

  1. Show ½ × ⅓ by shading a square: half one way, a third the other way. The overlap is 1/6.
  2. Multiply 3 × ¾ as repeated addition.
  3. Halve a recipe: ¾ cup becomes 3/8 cup.
  4. Divide: how many ¼ litre glasses in 3 litres? (3 ÷ ¼ = 12)

Words to use

  • of
  • product
  • reciprocal
  • divide
  • area model
  • simplify

Watch for

  • Thinking multiplying always makes bigger. ½ × 6 = 3: multiplying by a fraction less than 1 makes smaller.
  • Dividing fractions by dividing tops and bottoms randomly. Multiply by the reciprocal: 3 ÷ ¼ = 3 × 4.

What it sounds like at home

A short example of the conversation. Your words will differ; the questions are what matter.

YouHow many ¼ litre glasses in 3 litres?

Your child4 per litre, so 12.

A game for this week: Recipe scaler

  1. Pick a recipe with fractions.
  2. Roll a die: 1–3 halve it, 4–6 make 1½ times.
  3. Scale every ingredient.
  4. Check each other’s answers.

A 5-day plan, 20 minutes a day

  1. Day 1Area model of ½ × ⅓.
  2. Day 2Whole × fraction.
  3. Day 3Scaling recipes.
  4. Day 4Dividing by a fraction.
  5. Day 5Recipe scaler game.

Everyday moments to practise

  • Recipes for fewer people.
  • Sharing pizza.
  • Distance at a fraction of the time.
  • Discounts like half of half.

Quick check

Ask these at the end of the week. Tap to see the answer.

½ × ⅓?

1/6.

3 × ¾?

9/4 = 2¼.

3 ÷ ¼?

12.

Ready for the next chapter when your child…

  • Multiplies fractions.
  • Explains products with area models.
  • Divides fractions using reciprocals.

Activities, wording and illustrations are Mathify Kids’ own, following the topics of NCERT’s Ganita Prakash (Class 7). See the full Class 7 parent guide for every chapter.

Questions parents ask

How do I multiply fractions?

Multiply numerators and denominators: ½ × ⅓ = 1/6.

What is a reciprocal?

The fraction flipped: the reciprocal of ¼ is 4.

Why does dividing by ¼ make bigger?

You are counting how many quarters fit.