Teaching Equivalent Fractions | 3 Things Students Need to Know

 

Teaching 3rd Graders Equivalent Fractions

Helping 3rd graders understand equivalent fractions is a key step in building their fraction sense and preparing them for more advanced math concepts. To make this process engaging and effective, it's important to take a step-by-step approach. Start with hands-on manipulatives and visuals, move to number lines for deeper exploration, and finally introduce algorithms for efficiency. Here's how:

1. Start with Visuals

The concept of equivalent fractions can seem abstract to young learners, so it's important to ground it in something concrete. Begin by using manipulatives such as fraction bars or fraction circles. These tools allow students to physically explore how fractions can be divided into equal parts and how different fractions can represent the same value. For instance, students can overlay ⅓ and ⅖ to see that two ⅖ are the same as one ⅓.

As students become more familiar with the concept, continue referencing visuals like fraction strips, pie charts, or grids. These representations help students see the relationships between fractions and solidify their understanding. Encourage students to draw their own fraction models as they work through problems—this helps bridge the gap between physical manipulatives and abstract thinking.

2. Explore Number Lines

Once students have a foundational understanding of equivalent fractions, introduce number lines as a way to visualize these relationships. Plot fractions on stacked number lines divided into different denominators. For example, on one line, plot ⅓, and on the line below it, divide the line into sixths to show that ⅖ aligns perfectly with ⅓. This helps students observe patterns and relationships between fractions with different denominators.

Number lines also provide an excellent opportunity to connect equivalent fractions to other skills like comparing and ordering fractions or finding the least common multiple. For example, when students compare ⅔ and ⅓ on a number line, they can see how equivalent fractions like ⅖ align with both fractions. Encourage students to use number lines to explain their reasoning and to visualize their work as they add or subtract fractions with like or unlike denominators.

3. Introduce Algorithms Last

After students have built a strong conceptual understanding of equivalent fractions using visuals and number lines, you can introduce algorithms. Teach students how to create equivalent fractions by multiplying both the numerator and denominator by the same number (which is equivalent to multiplying by 1). For instance, multiplying both parts of ½ by 2 gives ⅔. Explain that this operation doesn’t change the value of the fraction because it’s essentially multiplying by 1.

Similarly, teach students how to simplify fractions by finding common factors of the numerator and denominator. For example, simplifying ⅖ involves dividing both parts by their greatest common factor, which is 2, resulting in ⅓. By practicing these strategies, students learn to approach equivalent fractions with efficiency and confidence.

Wrap-Up and Resource

To make teaching equivalent fractions even easier, check out our Equivalent Fractions Anchor Chart. 

This resource provides a visual representation of fraction models, number lines, and step-by-step instructions for multiplying to create equivalent fractions. Available in multiple formats—single sheets, half sheets for interactive notebooks, and a 2x2 poster—this anchor chart is simple, neat, and perfect for helping students master comparing equivalent fractions, adding and subtracting equivalent fractions, and understanding the least common multiple.

Grab your copy today and make teaching equivalent fractions a breeze!