4 Ways to Help Students Master Equivalent Fractions

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One of my favorite parts of math instruction is teaching fractions. I know several people who when they hear the word fractions shrivel up like a grape left in the hot Sahara sun. Not me though! Fractions are so intuitive and can be taught in a way that really helps students grasp and understand the concepts. Here are 3 things that I used to help my students solidify their understanding of equivalent fractions.

1. Ditch the Pictures!

It may seem counterintuitive to begin teaching about equivalent fractions by not showing students a picture of 1/2 and 2/4. Instead, to introduce fractions, I begin with equal-sharing word problems. I do this because students are so familiar with this example in their real life. 

These problems often involve splitting up some type of food item between a certain number of people. You can use these to help students understand equivalent fractions. Here is a question that I like to use to see if my students can make the connection of equivalent fractions on their own.

"There are two groups of kids sharing pizza. In one group, three children share one pizza equally. In another group, six children share two pizzas equally. Who will get more pizza? A child in the first group or the second group?"

After examining the problem, we can see that each child is going to get 1/3 of a pizza regardless of which group they are in. We can talk about how in one group the students might just get 1/3. In the other group, the students can get 2/6 a pizza. Having these discussions with your students can really help them conceptualize the same amount, just different sizes of pieces.

(And, just because you don't provide students with a picture doesn't mean students can't draw a picture. In fact, it's preferred! That way, students are sharing their model, instead of just doing what the teacher tells them.)

2. Use Manipulatives to Find Equivalent Fractions

Okay, I know I just told you to ditch pictures, but once students have worked through a significant number of equal sharing problems, then I will introduce manipulatives. I don’t like to use manipulatives to start with because I really think that fractions can be intuitive if presented correctly. Manipulatives, however, are a great way to show equivalent fractions after students have 1) already identified what they are, and 2) are familiar with various ways to find them. 

I will do something similar to what I did in the pizza problem. I will have the students pull out 1/2 and 2/4. They will then determine if they are equivalent or if one is greater than the other. The danger with this is that some fractions can look really close to being equivalent well just being slightly off. Take a look at this example.

Here you can see that 3/5 and 7/12 look really close. They are *almost* equivalent. And to students who are still trying to figure out how to be precise, this can be an issue if this is the only way that students are taught to find equivalent fractions.

3. Use Multiplication & Division to Find Equivalent Fractions

After using manipulatives, we talk about how we can find equivalent fractions without using fraction bars. This is when teaching students about multiplying and dividing comes in. It is not enough however to just teach the students how to find the equivalent fraction. It must be accompanied by an understanding in order for students to really internalize it. 

I like to draw models with my students that then show why I multiply by two over two or three over three. We discuss why I can divide a fraction by two or by three in order to find an equivalent fraction.

4. Practice Finding Equivalent Fractions

After students know how and why finding equivalent fractions works, they are ready to practice. My favorite way I have to practice is by using games and other activities in the classroom. Some of my favorite activities to do with my students are games like bingo or a board game set up similar to Candyland. I’ve also used coloring pages to help my students find equivalent fractions as well. Want to check out some of my equivalent fraction activities? Click here to see some of the activities you can use with your students in your classroom.

Teaching equivalent fractions doesn’t have to be the bane of your existence. By introducing equivalent fractions through word problems, manipulatives, having students discover how to find equivalent fractions, and fun and engaging repeated practice, your students are sure to become masters of fractions.

Want a free fraction activity to do with your students? Check out this FREE set of addition and subtraction fraction task cards that focus on error analysis! These are perfect for helping your students find and fix mistakes in their work too!