FRACTION GAMES FOR KIDS - Kindergarten Lessons

Fraction games and fraction manipulatives give children opportunities to increase their fraction number sense.

The more time children have to play with fraction toys and blocks, the more their ability to visualize fractions as equal parts of a whole will increase.

Rather than teaching preschool and kindergarten math with worksheets, give them lots of hands on experiences with math manipulatives and games.

See suggestions below.

Teach fraction number sense…

The concept of equivalent fractions will come with time if children have plenty of hands on play activities.
Older children struggling with fraction concepts have often not had enough hands on experiences with fraction manipulatives.
Playing fraction games will increase the children’s understanding that a fraction piece is a part of an equal number of pieces that creates a whole object.

Easy Fraction Games

Depending on your class size you may need to split the class into groups, having one group exploring independent math centers with modeling clay, drawing, blocks or puzzles, while the other children work with teacher led math activities.

1. Fill the Circle game

The purpose of this fraction game is to introduce fraction vocabulary and increase the children’s ability to visualize fraction pieces relative to a whole object.

Preparation:

Trace and cut out the whole circles from a fraction circle set.
To do this just trace one, then cut out 3 or 4 at a time from lightweight card.
You will need one whole for each child in the group.

Materials:

One or two sets of color-coded foam fraction circle sets depending on the number of children in the group
Remove the whole circles from the sets.
For each child: one whole cardboard circle the same size as the whole circle in the set
One set of number cards from 2 – 5

$fraction Circles$

Procedure:

1. Children sit in circle with all the fraction pieces in the center.
2. Each child has a cardboard circle in front of them.
3. The teacher turns over a number card between 2 and 5, and places it on the carpet.
4. Each child chooses that number of any size fraction pieces, then places the pieces they chose on their circle to see how they fit.
5. Teacher introduces fraction vocabulary when discussing the game results (E.G. Joey used a one-third piece and three of the one-twelfth pieces, Sarah used one of the one-third pieces and two of the one-eighth pieces)
6. Children observe each other’s circles:
  - What do they notice? What is interesting?
  - Do any child’s shapes filled the entire cardboard circle?
  - Do any child’s shapes filled the entire cardboard circle and have pieces left over?

2. Complete the Circle Game

Children are trying to make as many complete circles of the same shape and learn fraction vocabulary in the process!

You are introducing children to the fraction terms not having them memorize them.

Don’t assume that all children make the connection that three, one-third pieces will make a complete circle or that five, one fifth pieces make completes a circle. They need plenty of play with the fraction pieces to comprehend this.

Often older grades have fraction circle sets in their classrooms and will lend them for a time. For young children, use the largest sized sets available.

Preparation:

Trace and cut out ONE of each sized fraction piece from a fraction circle set (that is one 1/2, one 1/3, etcetera.
Use lightweight cardboard.

Materials:

Color-coded foam fraction circle set
One of each fraction shape cut out of lightweight card (see above)
Cloth or paper bag
Number cards with digits from 2 – 5
Children’s name cards

Procedure:

Getting ready…

Place the cardboard shapes in a bag.
Place one of each foam shape on the carpet with ample room between them.
Stack the number cards upside down on the carpet.
Place the children’s name cards in front of them on the carpet.

Then…

Distribute all the pieces from a fraction circle set to the children. If you have a small group give the children 2 or 3 pieces each.
Pull a cardboard shape from the bag and then turn over the top number card.
Show the children the shape and call its name.
If the number is 4, then four children with that card place their shape, one at a time, on the carpet next the foam shape to see if their cards can make a whole circle.

Ask, for example, “Do 4 black one-quarter shapes make a whole circle?”
- The children who had a turn put their name cards under their circle.
Choose a different number card and a different fraction shape. Children can try to make a new circle or try to complete a circle of the same shape. The purpose is to make complete circles.
If necessary to give all children turns, put the cardboard shape back in the bag and repeat the steps

As the game continues, whole circles are formed as the children have turns placing their pieces on the carpet.

- Each time a new whole circle is formed, the players cheer.

When a circle is completed, count together to see how many pieces of each shape make an entire circle. For example, “Let’s count how many green, one fifth pieces it took to make a complete circle.”