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3rd grade · Math · Unit 4 of 12

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.

Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards benchmark: 3.3.5.9; 3.3.5.12 · halves, thirds, fourths and eighths of a whole, and comparing unit fractions

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. The bottom number says how many equal parts make a whole.
  2. The top number says how many parts we have.
  3. 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 Minnesota

In the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards, this is unit 4 of 12 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: Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    In 6/8, what does the 8 tell you?

    • How many wholes there are
    • How many equal parts make the whole
    • How many of the parts are shaded

  2. Question 2

    Which is more: 6/8 or 1/8?

    • 1/8
    • They are the same
    • 6/8

  3. Question 3

    Which is bigger: 1/2 or 1/4?

    • 1/2
    • 1/4
    • They are the same

  4. Question 4

    What fraction of the counters are red?

    🔴🔴🔵🔵🔵🔵
    • 2/6
    • 2/4
    • 2/7
    • 4/6

  5. Question 5

    A pie is cut into 8 equal slices. Mila eats 1 slice. What fraction of the pie did Mila eat?

    🥧8 slices

    answer box

  6. Question 6

    What fraction is NOT shaded?

    • 2/4
    • 1/3
    • 2/3
    • 2/5

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