Comparing Fractions Game

How to Play

Grab a partner. Get a set of cards.

Each card has two fractions.

Look at the two fractions.

Are they the same?
Is one bigger?

Think by yourself first.

Then show your partner your answer.

Do you agree?
Take turns saying why.

Do you disagree?
Talk until you agree.

Pick a new card. Do it again.

Play 10 rounds.

Then talk about how you compared the fractions.

Ways to Compare Fractions

Same top number.
Look at 2/3 and 2/5.
The bottom number tells you how many pieces make a whole.
More pieces means smaller pieces.
Thirds are bigger than fifths.
So 2/3 is bigger than 2/5.

Same bottom number.
Look at 1/3 and 2/3.
Both are cut into thirds.
2/3 has one more piece.
So 2/3 is bigger.

One whole as a helper.
Look at 2/3 and 3/2.
2/3 is less than one whole.
3/2 is more than one whole.
So 3/2 is bigger.

Equal fractions.
Look at 1/2 and 2/4.
Draw two squares the same size.
Cut one into 2 parts. Shade 1.
Cut one into 4 parts. Shade 2.
Both shaded parts look the same size.
So 1/2 equals 2/4.

What We Learn

A picture can help you compare.
The bigger fraction has more shaded.

The bottom number tells how many pieces in the whole.
More pieces means smaller pieces.

The top number tells how many pieces you have.

Equal fractions can look different.
But they show the same amount.

If the top number is bigger than the bottom number, the fraction is more than one whole.

Math has patterns.
Patterns help us guess, explain, and prove our ideas.