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5 Ways to Compare Fractions

March 12, 2017 By Mercedes Hutchens Leave a Comment

Do your students really understand fractions?  Having a solid understanding of what a fraction really means begins with being able to compare fractions.  Check out these five effective strategies.

Do your students really understand fractions? Looking for fraction activities and games? Having a solid understanding of what a fraction really means begins with being able to compare fractions. Help your third and fourth graders gain a clear understanding by comparing fractions with common numerators, common denominators, using models, using half as a benchmark, and comparing fractions one away from the whole.

Compare Fractions Using Models

If you were really hungry, would you rather have half a graham cracker or one fourth of a graham cracker?

Introduce fractions with this question gets kids thinking.  Have kids write down what they’d want.  Then, give them what they requested.  Some kids may have saw the 4 in 1/4 and assumed that because 4 is bigger, their piece would be bigger.  Now you have their attention.

Kids need to touch and look at fractions.  As they begin to understand that a fraction is part of a whole, they need to experience it.  I love using Fraction Tiles with kids.  If you don’t have fraction manipulatives in your classroom, check out this post where I share free online fraction manipulatives.

Do your students really understand fractions? Having a solid understanding of what a fraction really means begins with being able to compare fractions.

When I introduce comparing fractions, models are essential.  Models can be fraction tiles, pictures, numberlines, food or paper they cut.Do your students really understand fractions? Having a solid understanding of what a fraction really means begins with being able to compare fractions.

Don’t forget to use number lines as models.

Do your students really understand fractions? Having a solid understanding of what a fraction really means begins with being able to compare fractions.

Compare Fractions with a Common Denominator

The first step to understanding how to compare fractions without a model is understanding the meaning of a denominator.  If the denominators are the same, that means the pieces are the same size.  Now students can think of the numerators as the number of pieces.

Do your students really understand fractions? Having a solid understanding of what a fraction really means begins with being able to compare fractions.

Compare Fractions with a Common Numerator

Comparing common numerators helps students think deeper about fractions.  Now, they begin to think of the denominator as the size of the part of a whole.

Do your students really understand fractions? Having a solid understanding of what a fraction really means begins with being able to compare fractions.

Compare Fractions Using Half as a Benchmark

Many children grew up eating food that has been cut in half.  So, the concept of half has been solidified over time for them.

Do your students really understand fractions? Having a solid understanding of what a fraction really means begins with being able to compare fractions.Start out introducing this strategy by having them identify which fraction are more than, less than, and equal to half.  Once they have that part down, they are ready to use that information to compare.
Do your students really understand fractions? Having a solid understanding of what a fraction really means begins with being able to compare fractions.

Do your students really understand fractions? Having a solid understanding of what a fraction really means begins with being able to compare fractions.

Compare Fractions One Away from the Whole

Let students discover this strategy without having to explain it.  Here is an example:

Build one whole out of fifths.  Build one whole out of tenths.  Take one piece away from each.  Do you now have more fifths or tenths? Why? Write two fractions to show what you have and use a symbol to compare.

After a few guided builds, have a math talk.  Look for patterns.  What do they notice?  Have them compare without manipulatives.

Do your students really understand fractions? Having a solid understanding of what a fraction really means begins with being able to compare fractions.

Resources for Comparing Fractions

Looking for resources you can use to teach these strategies in your classroom? I used pictures from some of my resources in this blog post.  I have task cards for each strategy and a digital resource with all the strategies.

Compare Fractions

Resources for teaching comparing fractions by Mercedes Hutchens

1

Compare Fractions: Interactive Math for the Google Classroom | TpT

Apr 22, 2018 - teacherspayteachers.com - 471
Compare Fractions: Interactive Math for the Google Classroom | TpT

5 strategies for comparing fractions are covered in this digital Google Slides resource. Compare Fractions Using Models Compare Fractions with a Common Denominator
Compare Fractions with a Common Numerator
Compare Fractions using Half as a Benchmark
Compare Fractions that are One Away from the Whole

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Compare Fractions Bundle by Mercedes Hutchens | Teachers Pay Teachers

Apr 22, 2018 - teacherspayteachers.com - 120
Compare Fractions Bundle by Mercedes Hutchens | Teachers Pay Teachers

Save 20% by buying this bundle of task cards which includes Comparing Fractions Using Models, Comparing Fractions with the Same Numerator, and Comparing Fractions with the Same Denominator, Comparing Fractions using Half as a Benchmark, Comparing Fractions One Away From a Whole, and Identifying Fractions.

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Compare Fractions Using Models by Mercedes Hutchens | TpT

Apr 22, 2018 - teacherspayteachers.com - 77
Compare Fractions Using Models by Mercedes Hutchens | TpT

Use Models to Compare Fractions Task Cards and Vocabulary Posters Students will look at pictures of fractions and compare using less than, greater than, and equal. 3.NF.3, 4.NF.2 These task cards can used as an early finisher, as a scoot game, or as a center.

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Compare Fractions with the Same Numerator by Mercedes Hutchens | TpT

Apr 22, 2018 - teacherspayteachers.com - 40
Compare Fractions with the Same Numerator by Mercedes Hutchens | TpT

3.NF.3, 4.NF.2 Fraction Task Cards Using the numerator to compare fractions reinforces understanding of fractions. Students will look at fractions with the same numerator and compare using less than, greater than, and equal. These task cards can used as an early finisher, as a scoot game, or

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Compare Fractions with the Same Denominator by Mercedes Hutchens

Apr 22, 2018 - teacherspayteachers.com - 48
Compare Fractions with the Same Denominator by Mercedes Hutchens

Compare Fractions with the Same Denominator Task Cards Compare Fractions with the Same Denominator Common Core Standards 3.NF.3, 4.NF.2 These task cards can used as an early finisher, as a scoot game, or as a center. Students will look at fractions with the same denominator

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Compare Fractions Using Half as a Benchmark by Mercedes Hutchens

Apr 22, 2018 - teacherspayteachers.com - 83
Compare Fractions Using Half as a Benchmark by Mercedes Hutchens

3.NF.3, 4.NF.2 Fraction Task Cards Compare fractions using half as a benchmark. Students will practice comparing fractions to half. Then, they will compare using the less than, greater than, and equal to symbols. If one fraction is more than half and the other

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Compare Fractions One Away from the Whole Task Cards by Mercedes Hutchens

Apr 22, 2018 - teacherspayteachers.com - 55
Compare Fractions One Away from the Whole Task Cards by Mercedes Hutchens

3.NF.3, 4.NF.2 Fraction Task Cards Compare fractions one away from the whole (in sequence). Students will look at fractions one unit away from the whole and compare using less than, greater than, and equal. This reinforces that fractions with larger

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Identify Fractions Task Cards FREE by Mercedes Hutchens | TpT

Apr 22, 2018 - teacherspayteachers.com - 80
Identify Fractions Task Cards FREE by Mercedes Hutchens | TpT

Identify Fraction Task Cards Identify Fractions Common Core Standard 3.NF.1 These task cards can used as an early finisher, as a scoot game, or as a center. Students will look at pictures of fractions and write the fraction for what they see. Included: 30 task cards
Instruction and Hint task cards
Two recording sheets
Vocabulary Posters (can be shown on interactive white board or

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Open Number Line Template Free by Mercedes Hutchens | TpT

Apr 22, 2018 - teacherspayteachers.com - 203
Open Number Line Template Free by Mercedes Hutchens | TpT

This work mat can be used for any number line activity. You can laminate it for use with white board markers or wet erase markers. Another option is to insert them into reusable dry erase pockets. An Open Number Line can be used for: *place value
*addition
*subtraction
*two digit addition
*two digit subtraction
*fractions
*decimals
*multiplying
*comparing
*creating a visual to solve word problems

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Filed Under: 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, Freebie, Google Apps, Math, Technology Tagged With: 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, fractions, Interactive Math

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