3rd grade · Math · Unit 4 of 14
Fractions
Parts of a whole
What your child practices
Naming fractions of a shape, a set and a number line, knowing what the top and bottom numbers mean, and comparing fractions by the size of their parts.
Arizona Academic Standards learning standard: 3.NF.A.1; 3.NF.A.2; 3.NF.A.3 · unit fractions, fractions on a number line, and comparing fractions
How we explain it
Children can open this short lesson before they practice.
- The bottom number says how many equal parts make a whole.
- The top number says how many parts we have.
- With the same bottom number, the bigger top number is more.
Example: A pie has 4 equal slices. Amir eats 1. What fraction did he eat? The whole is 4 equal parts. He ate 1 part, so 1/4. Answer: 1/4
Fractions in Arizona
In the Arizona Academic Standards, this is unit 4 of 14 in 3rd grade Math, after Division and before Patterns & Equations.
Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.
Source: Arizona Department of Education
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
What fraction is shaded? Type it like 1/2.
answer box
7/8
Hint: Count the shaded parts for the top number (7) and all the equal parts for the bottom number (8): 7/8.
Question 2
A chocolate bar is cut into 8 equal pieces. Sam eats 3 pieces. What fraction of the chocolate bar did Sam eat?
🍫8 piecesanswer box
3/8
Hint: The chocolate bar has 8 equal pieces, and Sam eats 3 of them: 3/8.
Question 3
Which is bigger: 1/4 or 1/2?
- 1/2
- They are the same
- 1/4
1/2
Hint: The more parts a whole is cut into, the smaller each part. 1/2 has the fewest parts, so its part is the biggest.
Question 4
Which is more: 5/6 or 4/6?
- 4/6
- 5/6
- They are the same
5/6
Hint: The parts are all the same size (sixths). 5 parts is more than 4 parts.
Question 5
What fraction of the balls are basketballs?
⚽🏀🏀🏀🏀- 4/7
- 4/5
- 1/5
- 4/6
4/5
Hint: There are 5 balls in all, so the bottom number is 5. 4 of them are basketballs: 4/5.
Question 6
What fraction is NOT shaded?
- 1/4
- 1/5
- 2/5
- 4/5
1/5
Hint: There are 5 equal parts and 4 are shaded, so 1 is not shaded: 1/5.