Partitioning (part-part-whole) with Warringa Park School

https://player.vimeo.com/video/1160042962

[On-screen text: Strengthening number sense at home — — Partitioning with Warringa Park School]

[IMAGE: Victorian Mathematics Ambassadors Emily Glen and Patrick Kennedy stand and face camera]

[Patrick Kennedy] Hi, I’m Pat, and I’m here to talk to you about partitioning and, in particular, the part-part-whole model. Partitioning is breaking things into parts. One of the more common ways of doing this early on is using the part-part-whole model. This shows numbers both a whole and in two parts. Let’s head to Warringa Park to see how teacher Olivia models part-part-whole with her students, and some suggestions of how you can support at home.

[On-screen text: Classroom demonstration Olivia Galizi (teacher) and students, Warringa Park School]

[IMAGE: Olivia Galizi, teacher, sits at a classroom table facing 3 students. On the table are 3 tubs holding blocks and number cards]

[Olivia Galiz] All right, Tiara, what’s your whole number?

[Tiara] 10.

[Olivia Galizi] Perfect. Can you put 10 blocks into your container?

[Tiara] Yeah, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10.

[Olivia Galizi] Amazing. So 10 is your whole number that you’re working with.

[Tiara] Yes.

[Olivia Galizi] Can you show me the two parts that can make up 10?

[Tiara] Okay, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10.

[Olivia Galizi] Amazing, so what are the two parts that you’re showing me?

[Tiara] Three and seven.

[Olivia Galizi] Three and seven make 10.

[Tiara] Yeah.

[Olivia Galizi] That’s your whole number. And these are the two parts. Well done. Can you show me in a different way? Interesting.

[Tiara] Nine and one make 10.

[Olivia Galizi] Perfect, so your two parts are nine and one, and the number is 10.

[Tiara] Yeah.

[Olivia Galizi] Amazing, Tiara, you smashed it!

[On-screen text: At home tips Olivia Galizi, Warringa Park School]

[IMAGE: Olivia Galizi (teacher) leans on a classroom table]

[Olivia Galizi] Part-part-whole is one way of breaking a number into different parts. When developed early, it helps build confidence as maths gets more complex, setting learners up for long-term success. Part-part-whole model knowledge is especially helpful when answering word problems.

To support learning part-part-whole model at home, you could use most things to complete the activity you just saw, such as pasta, pens, spoons, or rocks to create a whole. Once you’ve counted the whole, separate into two groups and count the parts. Seven is three and four.

Bring back together as a whole to show that nothing has been lost, and then break apart into two different groups. Seven is two and five. What you use to count is not important as long as it can be separated into two groups. It also doesn’t matter if the objects are not all the same.

But if your child notices differences easily, it can help if you use the same object for the group. Playing with part-part-whole can be fun whilst giving your learner extra practise to master this important skill.

[On-screen text: Thank you to Olivia, students, staff and parents of Warringa Park School for their support in producing this video.]

[On-screen text: Victoria State Government logo Authorised by the Victorian Government, Melbourne].

[End transcript]

Updated 26 February 2026

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Partitioning (part-part-whole) with Warringa Park School

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