Hands-On Ways to Teach Fractions

Making Fractions Easier and Fun With Hands-On Fraction Activities

Understanding fractions is a critical foundation of math learning. But despite their daily frequency in our lives, fractions can be difficult to grasp. Not surprisingly, research shows that to master fractions, students need multiple opportunities to practice with many varied representations of fractions.

So a one-time activity of cutting up a Hershey bar into smaller squares, although great fun, may not be enough to truly cement the understanding of how fractions work. By all means, cut up chocolate bars, pizzas, and pies, but also add even more activities such as the ones featured here.

Fractions in the Kitchen

Our introduction to fractions was baking cookies. I had my daughter "Sprite" in the kitchen with me helping when I realized that she didn't even know how to read "1/2 cup," much less understand what 1/2 cup meant. She kept saying 112 cups of sugar. Right then and there, I decided that we must begin our study of fractions. The future of baking was at stake!

Using a recipe and well-marked measuring cups and spoons is a great introduction to fractions in the most practical way. Try making homemade pizza crust, brownies, or cookies—something that will motivate your child to get involved. This kind of learning is the best—it's hands-on, and it's real. I mean, dinner or at least dessert is at stake.

Double or halve the recipe for a more advanced fractions activity.

To prepare for more fractions experiences, I looked in my favorite math resource—Family Math—and found a great introductory fraction activity. It required our making homemade fraction strips and a die. I cut long strips from several different colors of A3 (11x17") cardstock. One was left whole and labeled as such. Then each strip was folded and cut to create fractions: halves, fourths, eighths, and sixteenths. Each individual piece was labeled with words and numerical symbols (i.e., one half and 1/2).

This physical construction of the fraction strips is essential for a child to understand where the numbers are coming from. She can see that by dividing a strip into two pieces, I get two halves—the denominator is a 2. If I cut the strip into four pieces, then I have four-fourths—the denominator is a four. Then it becomes obvious that the larger the denominator, the more pieces the strip is divided into, and thus the fraction piece is smaller. You probably won't have to explicitly say this because your child will figure it out.

Printable Board Game

We made a super big die from a cube template printed onto cardstock. Another option would be making a fractions spinner from the tool at SEN Teacher.

Then we took turns rolling the die and picking up the fraction we rolled. The first person to a whole was the winner! On another day, we started with a whole and subtracted the fraction that was rolled. This activity involved rearranging the fractions, say exchanging a fourth for four sixteenths so that we could then subtract one-sixteenth. We played this game many times over the course of a couple of weeks.

Then we played the Fraction Action board game. (Sorry, this is no longer available online.)

These are the Fraction Pieces you can print from 4th-grade Teaching Tools at EduPlace.

Each player had a set, and we gambled the fractions. First, someone set the ante, and everyone met it and called heads or tails. Then she tossed the coin. If two players were correct, then the pot had to be split evenly (leaving any remaining indivisible fractions in the pot).

Fraction Bingo can be found at 3rd-grade Teaching Tools at EduPlace. This is an adding exercise formatted in the classic standby game.

We played even more games with the fraction game boards and spinners and also at 3rd-grade Teaching Tools at EduPlace. There are no directions, so just be creative and come up with your own games, identifying, adding, subtracting, and ordering fractions. Or give the pages to your child and let him come up with a game!

Then we recycled one day's fraction pieces into the next day's notebooking page. I had Sprite create fraction equivalents by taping the pieces onto paper; for example, one-half equals eight sixteenths. This is a hands-on, self-checking activity because the pieces should match in size if they are equivalent.

Fractions can be parts of wholes or also segments of a collection. To illustrate that, I had my daughter select a handful of her tiny clay foods. We sorted them into categories—drinks, desserts, fruits, etc. (I did add a couple of extra items so that we'd have a nice total figure of 24.) Then we made fractions with the divided categories. We even reduced the fraction 6/24 to 1/4 after reorganizing the items to clearly show that the group of six was actually one-fourth of the entire collection.

Then we also looked at fractions as points on a number line by organizing whole and mixed numbers in order from smallest to greatest. I'm not sure why, but the concept didn't seem to click with Sprite until I added a zero piece as an anchor. So be sure to include a zero in your numbers.

Numerator and Denominator -- Fraction Vocabulary

Are these words important for mastering fractions?

The vital part of the fractions games is internalizing the concepts of what fractions are and how they work. Once you understand what that number on the bottom actually does, it's a lot easier to assign it its proper name. So, yes, teach numerator and denominator by speaking these words during your game playing. But don't get too upset when your child reverts to "the number on top."

Use a Notebook Worksheet to Conclude

As a wrap-up of all we'd studied, I gave Sprite a blank notebooking page and asked her to tell write her answer to this question in words, numbers, or pictures -- "What is a fraction?" Her answer included definitions and many examples plus a few diagrams. This page then went into her math notebook for reference.

More on Math

• Improve High School Math Grades: Tips for Parents & Students
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• Homeschool Math Curriculum Review
  These five math curriculums all have great benefits ... but they have setbacks, as well. Being a homeschool mom and math teacher for a co-op, I have learned the needs of different children and how to tell which curriculum is best for each.

Even More Fraction Activities

• Mathwire's Fractions
  Mathwire is a great living math site, full of ideas and fun. The fractions page offers some great manipulatives ideas.
• Fraction Dominoes
  Print these out to match numeric notation with a graphical representation.
• Learn with Math Games -- Fractions
  Two printable games -- one for multiplying fractions and another for comparing fractions.
• Laura Candler's File Cabinet
  Scroll down to the fractions section for many printable games.
• Fraction-omino Cards
  Fraction Dominoes in black, white and yellow. In this game you practice matching shaded representations, numeric symbols, and words.
• Fraction Fun
  This is a template for a file folder game for two people that uses manipulatives to review fractions.

Hands-on Fractions Guestbook

Sonya Chappell from UK on April 24, 2014:

Hands-on is definitely the way that works for us and I really like the resources you have on here. Warm wishes Sonya

RestlessKnights on February 05, 2014:

I totally agree that hands-on is the way to go when teaching fractions, at least for many students.

kepezzo on October 23, 2013:

Just today coworker was explaining how he was using chocolate to speed up the process of learning fractions. It is really abstract to learn fractions......great lens.

LearningWithMeaning on April 22, 2013:

I agree - the more ways we can present this material, the better! Fractions are so important because we really do use them every day. If you have a iPad, I found a great app called "Pizza Fractions". It's great because it is SO SIMPLE. It is just fractions, no extra bells and whistles like many iPad apps. It is a great activity when kids need a break from pencil and paper.

shayriana on March 07, 2013:

What great idea's for learning fractions. Thanks for sharing.

anonymous on January 12, 2013:

Great worksheets. Thank you for these worksheets

anonymous on December 27, 2012:

Thanks for sharing these ideas. As a Yr4/5 teacher having different ideas or activities to help cement the idea of fractions and how we use them in our everyday lives enriches the lives of the students I teach and hopefully allows them to understand the concept of fractions.

Freestuffer LM on November 19, 2012:

Very educational. Thanks for sharing. :)

srsddn lm on November 13, 2012:

The teaching of mathematical concepts is becoming more and more innovative. It is satisfying that there is more involvement of students and even teachers in understanding these concepts. Lens is a good resource.

anonymous on October 23, 2012:

Thank you for this resource, it is a big help. I have had some luck having my kids measure out all the measures on a 1 cup measurement and pour into the same size glasses then color with food coloring. We observe the quantities from all the angles and then "test" amounts by pouring back into measuring cup. They like it and they will repeat this hands on activity with different variations.

Tradeshowhobo on May 25, 2012:

More teachers need to use practical application when teaching fractions. Great lens.

Jeremy from Tokyo, Japan on April 26, 2012:

Came back to this lens via your blog, looking for some good activities to teach my third graders fractions. Great stuff here!

William Leverne Smith from Hollister, MO on March 08, 2012:

Enjoyed the lens... been a long time since I studied fraction... even got a Math B.S. degree many years ago... learning has changed; seems to be working fine. Keep up the good work. Appreciate the lens and your sharing! ;-)

brando87 on March 02, 2012:

very inventive. I used to tutor primary aged children. I used to use jelly beans sometimes.

theCNAtraining on February 16, 2012:

fractions is pretty cool. we use simple fractions every day of our lives! something important to learn and to be able to do your head for faster calculations.

vividviolet on February 05, 2012:

this will be useful... thanks

anonymous on February 05, 2012:

I loved this! Wish I had seen this when I was homeschooling. I'm now a teacher in the public schools, and developed some great lesson plans using your page. Thanks for sharing!

jimmyworldstar on February 04, 2012:

The only thing I remember about fractions is making the denominator equal to the other ones.

KarenCookieJar on November 23, 2011:

Fractions are easy.... with a CALCULATOR! ha

joycecity lm on November 09, 2011:

very creative!

JodiFromFlorida on October 05, 2011:

This would be great for homeschooling. Very educational lens!

Teddi14 LM on September 28, 2011:

Great job!

franstan lm on September 12, 2011:

Blessings on this lens. Fractions are a difficult concept for children to grasp but you have made it so easy.

Kirsti A. Dyer from Northern California on August 14, 2011:

I always thought pies were a good way to teach fractions. Of course kids learn quickly if 1/2 of a cookie is more than a whole cookie, especially if they are eating one. I put measuring cups in the tub so the girls to measure water.

Lisa Auch from Scotland on July 29, 2011:

I ave had a quick scan through and I am going to bookmark this for tomorrow (late here) and will come back tomorrow with my daughter, as this is exactly what we need to crack fractions! for her starting the new term! I should have known you would have had what I needed ;-) Thanks jimmie!

Kerri Bee from Upstate, NY on July 24, 2011:

We did some with legos. We sorted them like you did with your foods. It also worked well to see spatially by comparing a blog that is 2x6 and saying what it we split it into 6 pieces - then putting together 6 blocks 2x1. One being a different color is 1/6th. Then what if we split our big blog into 12 pieces. We put together 12 blocks 1x1. We have to make 2 of those blocks a different color to match the other, visually seeing that 1/6 = 2/12. (easier to see than tell - which is exactly why it works).

iRenew on July 20, 2011:

This is good stuff. I think you really have to teach with manipulatives to get it right! Rulers and measuring cups are my favorites.

JoshK47 on June 22, 2011:

Great ideas - I kind of wish my mom had been as creative with my curiculum when I was being homeschooled. :)

TeacherSerenia on May 28, 2011:

Maths was never my strong point, but this lens has some excellent ideas and resources for learning about fractions. Thank you.

AlisonMeacham on May 24, 2011:

This is just what I was looking for to inspire my son to learn about fractions. Squid Angel Blessings to you

RetroMom on April 29, 2011:

Very nice. Teaching match to children is really difficult. But if you teach them in a creative and fun way, they will surely learn.

sushilkin lm on April 25, 2011:

Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Keep sharing always. Please PRAY for JAPAN by visit on Squidoo!!

LouisaDembul on April 14, 2011:

My daughter just started learning fractions in school, so this will be very handy! Think I like the baking tip....must make sure mummy has a steady supply of cookies!

Philippians468 on April 14, 2011:

i love teach fractions with cards and shapes! great work on the lens! cheers

hsschulte on April 12, 2011:

This is most excellent! I am going to do this with my boys. We homeschool also.

anonymous on April 04, 2011:

Thank you for sharing this. I need to go over fractions and your suggestions are very helpful. I have the Mega-Fun Card-Game Math but had not heard of some of the other books you suggested. Thank you!! :D

Blackspaniel1 on April 02, 2011:

Nice lens. Just joined your fan club.

eclecticeducati1 on April 01, 2011:

Great ideas! Thank you. Blessed by an April Fools Angel. :)

sorana lm on March 11, 2011:

Excellent activities for learning fractions. Lensrolled to my How to Learn Fractions lens.

Jeanette from Australia on February 06, 2011:

Great ideas. This lens has been blessed by the maths angel and added to my best maths resources lens.

Ann Hinds from So Cal on December 05, 2010:

As a parent of a 4th grader, this is a great site with lots and lots of helpful information and tools. You bet this got and Squid Angel blessing, it is going to be a blessing for me.

anonymous on November 13, 2010:

I think cooking or anything to do with food is a great way to teach kids fractions. This is a very good resource for anyone trying to teach their kids fractions, nicely done.

JoyfulPamela2 from Pennsylvania, USA on October 11, 2010:

We have many homemade fraction manipulatives that we have used, but you have some new varieties! Thanks for sharing them. :D

anonymous on April 12, 2010:

You may want to clarify that in the NC Dept of Pub. Ed. page you have for coloring in the squares in fraction ways, that it came from Grade 4 on that page.

Thanks so much for this help!

anonymous on April 09, 2010:

THANK YOU! This is JUST the help I need for my son. -a homeschooling m-wife in Nepal

anonymous on September 15, 2009:

here are the fraction cards I printed to use: http://www.helpingwithmath.com/resources/oth_flash...

and I thought this little chart was snazzy for showing equivalent fractions

http://www.helpingwithmath.com/printables/others/l...

anonymous on September 15, 2009:

JIMMIE you've done it again! (and I didn't even realize this was your lense until I started reading through it and saw Sprite's name!) Thank you for taking the time to post your resources. We're rowing Lentil right now and fractions are being introduced this week. I started with Legos yesterday. We related an 8 dot brick to a whole note, a 4 dot to a 1/2 note and a 2 dot to an 1/8 note. I've printed out some fractions cards w/ both the numeral and the physical representation and I'm going to have the kids use legos to copy and then I'm planning to use the Sen teacher dice you linked. If I find anything cool, I'll sure report back! THANK YOU again for helping me be a better teacher!

Joan Hall from Los Angeles on August 23, 2009:

Great pictures and activities. I'm adding this to a math lensography I'm putting together.

Andy-Po on May 19, 2009:

Great ideas. I've done some maths teaching over the years (I'm a physicist) and I found it difficult to understand why people didn't understand fractions, which made it hard for me to teach the subject to people who didn't get it. Thanks.

Tony Payne from Southampton, UK on May 05, 2009:

Great lens and guide to fractions. I know this used to fox me years ago, and I had to teach them to my Mom since she didn't understand them either. 5***** for a great study guide.

anonymous on May 01, 2009:

This is fantastic! I don't cover fractions in the age group I teach, but it is great to have a reference in case a child is interested in them :)

hlkljgk from Western Mass on April 19, 2009:

great ideas! thanks for all of your hard work on this lens.

anonymous on April 17, 2009:

You have mentioned many books which I already have so I am going to look for the others you recommended. Thanks so much!

Kathy

http://www.kathalog.com

groovyoldlady on April 07, 2009:

"Sprite" is very fortunate to have such an involved and creative mom/teacher!

Evelyn Saenz from Royalton on March 31, 2009:

You beat me too it! I was just about to start a lens on fractions.

Yours is the best! I love all those wonderful, hands-on activities especially the clay food fractions.

You can also make recipes using colored blocks for the ingredients. For example: In Baby Bear's Porridge 2/3 of the berries are blueberries. In Mama Bear's Porridge 1/4 of the berries are raspberries. etc.

religions7 on March 28, 2009:

Sounds like a great way to introduce fractions - I do hope (being a math teacher ) that you will progress to decimal numbers and make sure to come back to adding and substracting in later years. I recently had two high school students to tutor and neither of them had a sense for the simplest math tasks - like dividing 354 by 1000 - had to use a calculator.

aj80 on March 26, 2009:

Some excellent tips. Thank you for sharing.