Fraction Instruction: Let Games Lead the Way
Fractions have always been my favorite math topic to teach because I LOVE embedding my instruction into great games. While most teachers do play fraction games, I have learned, that many teachers use them to review content already taught. That is worthwhile too, but saving them until after “the lesson” strips them of their greatest power:
Great games motivate students to figure out what they don’t understand.
(Isn’t that exactly what we are looking for?)
Why not front load your best games? Let the new vocabulary words unfold in action. Set the stage for the big ideas to reveal themselves during play. Allow students to struggle enough that they want to figure it out.
Did you know challenging tasks spur the production of myelin, a substance that increases the strength of brain signals? That tells us that humans are hardwired to grow from struggle. So get those synapses firing by letting the games BE the lesson instead of the follow up!
Great Games ARE the Lesson!
Why not skip the pre-teaching (preaching) of vocabulary and procedures and let students explore with minimal instructions?
“Let’s each take 10 minutes on our devices to play a few rounds of Fraction Darts. I would like each of you to come up with at least one question and one thing you figured out while playing.”
After some exploration, let students share what they have learned and what their questions are. Some students will likely answer common questions with their shares. When all is said and done, there may only be one or two questions left for you to answer.
Now we shift the focus to vocabulary. Focus on the terms that arise naturally in the discussion. In Fraction Darts, it will likely be “numerator”, “denominator”, and “benchmark”. Most importantly, hold students accountable for using these words.
Encourage learners to share strategies, but not too soon. Games are a fantastic way to provide repeated opportunities for learners to discover ideas on their own. (Usually textbooks allow roughly 30 seconds for learners to discover something before ramming it down their throats.)
Students who construct their own ideas based on experiences are FAR MORE LIKELY to retain the information and better prepared to figure it out on their own if they forget. (More detailed teaching tips are available in each of the games shared below.)
Math Viking Fraction Game Progression
This twist on the Marilyn Burns classic is the BEST way to introduce fractions! Try it in 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades!
Early hands-on fraction tasks to develop deeper understanding of unit fractions and composing & decomposing fractions. 3rd/4th
This clearly shows “who already gets it” and needs a challenge. After initial play, level your groups a bit. 3rd-6th
This visually connects the 3rd grade M.D. standards, with 4th-6th grade fraction multiplication standards. 3rd-6th
Digital and printable Fraction Line Plot Mini Unit. One of the toughest standards is now a favorite in 4th-6th!
This connects fractions of a circle, with degrees of circle measures. Real world visuals are essential. (Gr 3 Enrichment) 4th-6th
Digital and printable DAILY REASONING with an easy to differentiate “Fraction Number of the Day” 4th-7th
WOAH! This takes critical thinking! <3 Engaging digital & printable task cards. (Gr 4 Enrichment) 5th-7th
Real world visuals of fraction by whole number multiplication. Match games and task cards to solve. 5th-7th
Real world visuals of whole number and fraction division situations. Match games and task cards to solve. 5th-7th
This fun freebie is hands-on using your own manipulatives! 5th-7th
Easy to differentiate Number of the Day Reasoning Templates! 4th-6th
Hold Game Players Accountable!
All Math Viking games come with recording sheets to hold players accountable. Another way to assess understanding and confidence with the topic is with a game-based exit ticket, like this one.
Games provide repeated opportunities for students to construct their own meaning on their time. THAT is what our job is all about, right?
Turn games into an extension project for your students with this “Math Game Reviewer” project. Assign students a game that will move their thinking forward (which is easy to level up or down by exploring the Free Game Grid.
The Progression of Fractions
Fractions are all about relationships. Relationships can only be developed and appreciated with a solid understanding of UNITS. I make a concerted effort to embed Math Viking games and resources with just enough professional development to help teachers and homeschoolers dive in easily, and level up their own thinking about the topic at hand.
Teacher questioning is most important in mathematics instruction. Great games help teachers develop their questioning techniques. A solid understanding of the progression of ideas throughout ALL grade levels, not just the current one, is also essential.
If you are not familiar with Graham Fletcher’s Fraction Progression video, be sure to watch and save it.
You will find that the order of my own games above moves down in the same trajectory with some overlap of ideas.
Which interactive games do you love? My favorites are the PHET fraction matcher, Fraction Darts and SatisFraction by Greg Tang, Fraction Tracks by Illuminations and I still get a kick out of that Monkey Number Line.
Have you tried any Math Viking fraction games? How about the Fraction Which One Doesn’t Belong? I would love to hear from you.
