How Can We Share This Cookie?

Recently, my husband captured a sweet (literally!) math moment with my daughters Janelle (age 5) and Jonylah (Jo-NYE-lah, age 3) that I’m excited to share with you. I had one big cookie that I brought home from a Panera boxed lunch and three people who wanted some—how do we share it equally?

Watch the 2 minute video [CLICK HERE]! 

At first glance, this might seem like a simple division problem (one cookie split into three parts). But there’s so much more happening here! Let’s break down some of the math that's at play in this conversation:

1. Equal Sharing (Early Division & Fractions)

Before kids formally learn about fractions or division, they develop an intuitive understanding of fair shares. I don't know about you, but in our house, whenever someone has more or less the public outcry in the younger generation is real!  In this activity, my daughters needed to figure out how to break the cookie into equal parts—an early foundation for fractions!  And, thinking about splitting a circle was an additional layer of challenge.

2. Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving

There wasn’t an obvious, pre-taught method to split the cookie. Instead, my daughters had to experiment, estimate, and adjust. This is real-world math in action: applying logic, testing ideas, and refining strategies.  Notice that my role was mostly asking questions and pushing Janelle to clarify what she meant with her ideas.

3. The Social Side of Math

Mathematical thinking isn’t just about numbers—it’s also about communication. We talked, debated, and negotiated how to divide the cookie. I didn't ask a question and then walk away, expecting Janelle to figure it out on her own.  In contrast to the image of students working quietly and independently at their own desks that may come to many of us when we think of our own math education, much of meaningful math learning can happen through social interactions. I would argue that this is especially necessary in early childhood!

4. The Right Answer Isn't the Point

Spoiler: We didn’t get a perfectly equal split in the end. And that’s okay!  The goal wasn’t perfection - a fully correct answer would be an unrealistic expectation at these ages.  But there was great discussion, critical thinking, and reasoning, especially from Janelle who at age 5 is more developmentally able to engage while her younger sister periodically chimes in with her less sophisticated input. :)

Your Turn!

The next time you have something to share—pizza, crackers, grapes—pause and let your child think through the math of fair sharing. See if you can ask at least three questions as you let them try, make adjustments, and explain their thinking.