Are you looking for some fun activities to teach and explain equivalent fractions to children in 3rd grade, 4th grade, and 5th grade?
If your students have mastered fractions on a number line and picture fractions, it may be time to teach them equivalent fractions. The easiest way for your students to have a deeper understanding of equivalent fraction concepts is to use fraction models and manipulatives.
Read below for 12 free ideas for teaching your 2nd grade, 3rd grade, and special education math students about equivalent fractions.
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You will find these skills in the Common Core math standards:
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.NF.A.3
Explain equivalence of fractions in special cases, and compare fractions by reasoning about their size.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.NF.A.3.A
Understand two fractions as equivalent (equal) if they are the same size, or the same point on a number line.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.NF.A.3.B
Recognize and generate simple equivalent fractions, e.g., 1/2 = 2/4, 4/6 = 2/3. Explain why the fractions are equivalent, e.g., by using a visual fraction model.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.NF.A.3.C
Express whole numbers as fractions, and recognize fractions that are equivalent to whole numbers. Examples: Express 3 in the form 3 = 3/1; recognize that 6/1 = 6; locate 4/4 and 1 at the same point of a number line diagram.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.NF.A.3.D
Compare two fractions with the same numerator or the same denominator by reasoning about their size. Recognize that comparisons are valid only when the two fractions refer to the same whole. Record the results of comparisons with the symbols >, =, or <, and justify the conclusions, e.g., by using a visual fraction model.
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Please watch this video for six activity ideas to teach equivalent fractions!
Then scroll down for 6 more ideas!
And now for 6 more ideas...
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#7 Pizza and Paper Plates
Pizza is always a high interest topic for students.
Student may create their own pizzas with paper plates.
Step 1: Students color the outer edge of the paper plate for the crust.
Step 2: Students color the inner circle of the paper plate for the sauce.
Step 3: Students cut various shapes from colored construction paper for pizza toppings and glue them onto the "sauce".
Step 4: When the pizza is dry, turn it over and draw lines for equal fractional parts. For example, for fourths, draw a line vertically and horizontally. Cut the pizza.
Step 5: Students may make several kinds of pizza to demonstrate different fractions. (halves, fourths, sixths and eighths)
Click the picture to head over to this blog to see how a paper plate pizza is made:
If you're not feeling crafty or don't have classroom time for it, you may wish to purchase these great resources from our Amazon Associate store:
You may also like these worksheets from our TpT store:
Click HERE to download a free fractions worksheet.
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#8 Playing Cards
Fractions Game - Click HERE for free directions.
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Click HERE for directions to play a SLAP FRACTIONS game from Education World.
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You may also like these fractions playing cards:
This 49-card set corresponds exactly to a set of Fraction Bars. Excellent for moving students from the concrete Fraction Bars model to the abstract conceptualization of fractions.
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#9 Task Cards
Brain research supports the connection between movement and learning. Evidence from imaging sources, anatomical studies, and clinical data shows that moderate movement enhances cognitive processing. Task cards offer an easy way to allow movement in the classroom while increasing student achievement!
These FREE samplers will help get you started!
Are you looking for more ideas on how to use task cards in your classroom?
Please click here:
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#10 Journal Writing
Journal writing for math? Absolutely! Math journals are a fun way to your students to show their thinking, work out math problems, and draw pictures to represent concepts.
Students may write fraction word problems in their math journals.
On the top half of the left side, have the students write a word problem with fractions.
On the bottom half of the left side, draw a picture to represent the word problem.
On the top half of the right side, the students will write key details and a number sentence for the problem.
On the bottom half of the right side, students will solve the problem and check their work.
Please click here to purchase journals from our Amazon Associate store.
You may download free 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade fraction word problem task cards to use in your math centers for fun games and activities. This is a great way to try before you buy!
You may use the printable task cards in your math centers or stations for fun practice or review games and activities, such as a scavenger hunt or SCOOT. They also work well for transition activities, as exit tickets, for morning work, test prep, and as quick formative assessments. Game ideas, a student response form, and answer key are included.
Click HERE for addition and subtraction pizza themed word problems.
Click HERE for more fraction word problems.
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#11 Online Fraction Games
There are many great websites for free online fraction games. They are a teacher timesaver and introduce your students to fundamental steps of learner in a high-interest way.
Click each title to visit the website hosting each online game:
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#12 Cyberchase Fraction Videos
Click HERE for free fun videos that introduce numerators, denominators and fractions.
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You may also like these Amazon Associate fraction resources:
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