Fraction Games for Math

Does anyone else just hate teaching fractions? I’m not sure what it is, but it’s just not my thing at all. If you feel the same way, then maybe you’re looking for some fun ways to switch up your instruction. Today, I’m sharing 5 fraction games math students of all ages will love!

These 5 games can be used for students of all grade levels! Whether you’re just working to identify and name fractions, compare fractions, or identify equivalent fractions – there’s a game in here for everyone!

1. Fraction Charades

Okay, I know the idea of playing charades with fractions might seem a little confusing. But bear with me for a second – it’s actually pretty awesome (and great for practice identifying fractions)!

To play Fraction Charades, students should be in groups. Each group will be given a fraction, and they then have to figure out how to act out that fraction (without talking). Here’s an example of how my students one year acted out the word “fourths”:

They stood in a circle and joined their arms together in a way to show four different sections! Personally, I thought that was pretty creative. But, there are other ways to do this as well!

For example, if students’ fraction is “two fifths” and there are (conveniently) 5 students in the group, they can all stand together and then two can step to the side. Allow your students to be creative – I guarantee they’ll come up with some amazing ideas!

As each group acts out their fraction, have the other groups try to guess what the fraction is.

Alternatively, you can also do pictionary, but charades just adds a little bit of an extra challenge. Plus, it’s a great way to add movement to your lesson to help break up the day.

2. Fraction Craftivities

Okay, I guess I’m cheating a bit since this isn’t exactly a game. But, it’s still a fun activity your students will enjoy!

You can have students practice identifying and writing about fractions with an easy craft. Students create something, and then identify the fractional parts that make up their creation. For example:

Students decorate each slice of a pizza with toppings, and then write sentences about what fraction of the pizza each topping makes up. (3/8 of my pizza slices are pepperoni, 2/8 are pineapple and ham, and 3/8 are cheese.)
Students put together an ice cream cone with scoops of different flavors, and write fractions about the flavors that make up their dessert. (2/5 of my ice cream cone is chocolate, and 3/5 are strawberry.)
In my Camp Fraction resource, students build their own s’mores and write sentences about the fraction each ingredient makes up. (3/7 of my s’more is marshmallow, 2/7 is graham cracker, and 2/7 is chocolate.)

Of course, the options are endless for this! Your students will love that they’re getting to be creative so much that they won’t even notice they’re practicing fractions. If you want to be really extra, score some bonus points by actually bringing in food to do these activities instead of just using paper.

3. Fraction War

Compare fractions with this math card game! To play, students will each need a partner and a deck of cards.

Students will each draw two cards at a time and arrange one on top of the other to make a fraction. In most situations, students will want to put the smaller number on top of the larger number. However, if you want to practice improper fractions, you can have them do the opposite. If desired, students can place a pencil between their two cards to represent a fraction bar.

Students will then compare their fractions. The student with the larger fraction gets to keep all the cards. If it is a tie and the fractions are equivalent, students will play another round as a tiebreaker. Whoever wins the tiebreaker gets to keep all the cards.

4. Ordering Fractions with Dominoes

Another easy fraction game for math involves using dominoes! Dominoes are GREAT for practicing fractions because, well, they look like fractions!

For this game, students should play with a partner. Each will draw five dominoes and turn them over. Then, they will quickly determine the proper order to put their fractions in (order to be determined by the teacher). You will want to tell students before hand whether they should use proper or improper fractions.

Students will race against their partner to be the first to accurately put them in order. For an extra challenge, have students place 10 dominoes in order instead of 5.

5. Fraction Turnover

Fraction Turnover is a twist on the classic game, Fruit Basket Turnover. In the traditional game, players sit in chairs in a circle with one person standing in the middle. The person in the middle will share a fact that is true about themselves, such as “I have blue eyes.” Everyone else in the circle for whom that fact is true will then get up and race to quickly a new seat, as well as the person in the middle. The person who is left without a seat will stand in the middle and start the next round.

Fraction Turnover works similarly. All players will be assigned a fraction – I recommend putting a picture of it in a lanyard for them to wear. The person standing in the middle will share a fact that is true about their fraction. Some examples of this might include:

A fraction that is equivalent to their own
The number of total parts in the whole
The number of parts
A fraction that is greater than theirs
A fraction that is less than theirs

Students must analyze their fraction and determine if the statement could apply to them as well. If so, they will get up and race to find a new, empty seat. The person left standing will go to the center and start the next round.