Fractions can be tricky for upper elementary students, but learning them can be engaging and fun with suitable fractions activities. Understanding fractions goes beyond just memorizing numbers—it requires a deep conceptual understanding of how parts relate to a whole and each other.
As teachers, finding creative ways to introduce and reinforce fractions can make all the difference in building our students’ confidence and skills. So, I’ve compiled a list of engaging fractions activities you can use to help your students practice their fractions skills. This comprehensive list is organized by skill. Take a look!
Differentiating Fractions
Before discussing individual skills, grab this free fractions differentiation toolkit to help students practice various skills in fractions activities.
The fractions toolkit is easy to prep. All you need to do is select the tools you want to give your students, print them, and add them to their toolkit. Tools in this toolkit include fraction models, number lines, graphic organizers, and more.
Students can use their toolkit while working on fractions worksheets, games, assessments, and more. It is a versatile tool to help your students master their fraction skills.
Understanding Fractions Activities: Fractional Parts and On a Numberline
Interactive Number Line Game: Use masking tape to create an extensive number line on the classroom floor. Give students fraction cards (e.g., 1/2, 1/4) and have them place the cards in the correct positions on the number line. This hands-on activity helps students visualize fractions as parts of a whole.
Fraction Stories on a Number Line: Have students create a story that involves fractions (e.g., “I ate 1/4 of a pizza”). They then place these fractions on a number line to visualize their story. This integrates literacy with math learning.
Graph Paper: Have students use graph paper to practice drawing and identifying fractions. This will work with both fractional parts and number lines. The grid on the paper makes it easy for students to create equal parts.
Food: Food makes for great fraction practice. Cut a pizza, cookie, or cake into pieces and discuss the fractions to learn the fractional parts of a whole. To learn a set’s fractional parts, sort a candy bag by color.
Math City 3rd Grade Pizza Project: Practice real-world fractional skills with this engaging math project. Grab it here. This project includes a differentiated version and a bonus activity for early finishers.
Standard-Specific Color By Number Fractions Activities: These are a fun and engaging way for students to practice specific standards. These self-checking activities can be plugged into centers, individual work, or even motivation for early finishers.
Identifying and Writing Fractions
Comparing Fractions Activities
Fraction War: Put a fraction spin on this classic game. Students can compare fractions using fraction cards, playing cards (they would flip two, one for the numerator and one for the denominator), dice, or even dominos.
Fractions Spin-It: Use this game to practice comparing fractions. It can be used to compare fractions with like and unlike denominators. It will work for various grades or make for an excellent differentiation option. Grab it here.
Fraction Towers: Students build towers representing fractions using linking cubes or blocks. They compare the height of the buildings to determine which fraction is more significant or more minor.
Math City Comparing and Equivalent Fractions Activities: This real-world math project will help students explore comparing and equivalent fractions through a candy shop. It is available in 3rd and 4th grade math standards. This project includes a differentiated version and a bonus activity for early finishers.
3rd Grade Math City Candy Shop Project
4th Grade Math City Candy Shop Project
Sorting Fractions Activity: Provide a set of fraction cards and ask students to sort them into groups: less than 1/2, equal to 1/2, and greater than 1/2. Extend the activity by comparing and ordering the sorted fractions.
Food: Use food or candy to represent fractional pieces and have students compare the fractions. They will connect when they realize they want the larger pie or cake.
Standard-Specific Color By Number Fractions Activities: These are a fun and engaging way for students to practice specific standards. These self-checking activities can be plugged into centers, individual work, or even motivation for early finishers.
Equivalent Fractions Activities
Fraction Strip Exploration: Students use fraction strips to visually explore and identify equivalent fractions. By layering the strips, they can see how different fractions cover the same amount of space.
Fraction Puzzles: Provide students with puzzles that match fraction pieces equivalent to each other. These puzzles can be cards or interactive cut-and-paste activities.
Equivalent Fractions Memory Match: Create a memory match game where students flip over cards to find pairs of equivalent fractions. The game can be played individually or in pairs.
Equivalent Fraction Charts: Grab these free equivalent fractions charts and use them to show equivalent fractions in various ways. These charts pair well with equivalent fractions activities.
Fraction Art: Have students create artwork incorporating equivalent fractions, such as designing quilt patterns where each square represents a fraction and the whole quilt represents equivalent fractions.
Fractional Recipes: Students adjust recipes by converting ingredients into equivalent fractions. For example, if a recipe calls for 1/2 cup of sugar, they might change it to 2/4 or 3/6 cups.
Math City Comparing and Equivalent Fractions Math Project: This real-world math project will help students explore comparing and equivalent fractions through a candy shop. It is available in 3rd and 4th grade math standards. This project includes a differentiated version and a bonus activity for early finishers.
Fraction Dominoes: Create or use fraction dominoes. Students must match equivalent fractions on each domino. This game can be played in pairs or small groups.
Standard-Specific Color By Number Fractions Activities: These are a fun and engaging way for students to practice specific standards. These self-checking activities can be plugged into centers, individual work, or even motivation for early finishers.
Adding and Subtracting Fractions Activities
Fraction Recipe Challenge: Students follow a recipe that involves adding or subtracting fractions of ingredients, such as combining 1/4 cup and 3/4 cup of sugar.
5th Grade Math City Candy Shop Project: Students will add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators while working through this real-world math project.
This project includes a differentiated version and a bonus activity for early finishers. Grab it here.
Fraction Number Line Jumps: Students use a number line to add or subtract fractions by “jumping” along the line. This helps them visualize the operation.
Fraction Strip Addition and Subtraction: Students use fraction strips to add or subtract fractions physically. They align strips to see how different fractions combine or break apart.
4th Grade Math City House Project: In this real-world math project, students will add and subtract fractions with like denominators.
This project includes a differentiated version and a bonus activity for early finishers. Grab it here.
Roll and Solve: Students roll dice to generate fractions and then add or subtract them. They can use the results to solve problems or play in pairs to see who gets the highest or lowest sum.
Pattern Blocks: Use pattern blocks to model adding and subtracting fractions. Click here to watch a great video that models adding and subtracting fractions with pattern blocks.
Standard-Specific Color By Number Fractions Activities: These are a fun and engaging way for students to practice specific standards. These self-checking activities can be plugged into centers, individual work, or even motivation for early finishers.
4th Grade Adding and Subtracting Fractions Color by Number
5th Grade Adding and Subtracting Fractions Color by Number
Multiplying and Dividing Fractions Activities
Fraction Area Models: Students create area models to represent the multiplication of fractions. They draw rectangles and shade parts to visualize how two fractions are multiplied.
Cooking with Fractions: Present students with recipes that involve multiplying or dividing fractional measurements, such as halving or doubling a recipe. They can work in groups to adjust the recipes and discuss their reasoning.
4th Grade Math City Pizzeria: Practice multiplying fractions by a whole number with this real-world math project. This project includes a differentiated version and a bonus activity for early finishers. Grab it here.
5th Grade Math City Pizzeria: Practice multiplying and dividing fractions with this real-world math project. This project includes a differentiated version and a bonus activity for early finishers. Grab it here.
Fraction Division with Number Lines: Use number lines to represent how fractions are divided visually. Students can plot the dividend and subtract the divisor repeatedly to see how many times it fits into the dividend.
Pattern Blocks: Mix and Math has a great blog post about multiplying fractions with pattern blocks. Take a look here.
Standard-Specific Color By Number Fractions Activities: These are a fun and engaging way for students to practice specific standards. These self-checking activities can be plugged into centers, individual work, or even motivation for early finishers.
4th Grade Multiplying Fractions by a Whole Number Color by Number
5th Grade Multiplying Fractions Color by Number
5th Grade Dividing Fractions Color by Number
5th Grade Interpreting Fractions as Division Color by Number
Decimals and Fractions Activities
And you can’t forget about those fractions and decimal standards in 4th grade. Take a look at the following standards-based color-by-number fractions activities.
Comparing Decimals to the Hundredths
There are many fun and engaging ways to help your students master fractions, no matter the skill. What fractions activities are you going to try?
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