Adding and subtracting fractions activities are essential for students to develop a strong foundation in this math skill.
Fractions are a fundamental part of mathematics, and being able to manipulate them is essential for success in higher-level math courses.
However, many students struggle with this concept, finding it challenging to understand and apply the rules correctly.
This is where engaging and interactive activities come in.
By providing students with hands-on, interactive experiences, they can build their understanding of fraction addition and subtraction, helping to solidify their conceptual understanding of the topic.
Activities also promote collaboration and problem-solving skills, allowing students to work together and learn from one another.
In this blog post, we will explore various activities and strategies for teaching adding and subtracting fractions, with the goal of helping students develop a strong foundation in this essential math skill.
The 5 Adding and Subtracting Fractions Activities That Students Really Enjoy are:
- Weave A Pic
- Cut & Paste Worksheets
- Games
- Boom Cards Practice
- Gameshow
Adding And Subtracting Fractions Math Skills
There are different levels and knowledge that a student has to master about adding and subtraction fractions in the primary level stage. And in this blog post, there will be fractions resources that cater to all of the below math skills.
- Add & Subtract like fractions
- Add & Subtract related fractions
- Add & Subtract unlike fractions without regrouping
- Add & Subtract unlike fractions with regrouping (i.e. answer is mixed numbers)
- Add & Subtract fractions from whole numbers
- Add & Subtract mixed numbers without regrouping
- Add & Subtract mixed numbers with regrouping
These fraction skills can be taught gradually from 3rd grade to 4th grade to 5th grade.
Some of the skills require other math skills. For instance, when doing addition of fractions with different denominators that are not multiples of each other, students must first determine the lowest common denominator, which in turn requires knowledge of common multiples.
Furthermore, students can make use of other math skills such as common factors to make calculations easier (i.e. leaving fractions in the simplest form).
By teaching these skills gradually and building upon prior knowledge, students can develop a strong understanding of fractions and their applications in mathematics.
Related Read: 7 Simple Ways To Practice With Fractions And Engage Students
1) Weave A Pic – A Paper Waving Math Art Project
Looking for a fun and engaging paper craft for your students to practice math skills?
Then you will want to try this FREE NO-PREP fractions craftivity!
Adding And Subtracting Mixed Numbers With Like Denominators With Regrouping features 2 Halloween-themed weaving projects, students will practice their fine motor skills while completing 20 questions and using 5 different recording sheets to ensure accountability.
With an answer key provided, this self-checking activity is perfect for math centers, substitutes, homework, and more.
There is a digital version available through Easel for the worksheet.
Ideal for Singapore Primary 5 or 5th-grade students.
There are more Weave A Pic series for adding and subtracting fractions. Do check them out based on your needs:
- Add And Subtract Mixed Numbers With Unlike Denominators Hands On Activities
- Adding And Subtracting Unlike Fractions
- Adding And Subtracting Related Fractions
2) Cut & Paste Worksheets
Looking for a fun and engaging way to incorporate fractions into your back-to-school activities?
Look no further than these cut-and-paste fractions worksheets!
Featuring 4 different images with 3 types of posters and 120 practice papers, students will have the opportunity to practice 10 different math skills related to fractions, including:
- Add Fractions With Like Denominators (Ans: Mixed Numbers)
- Add Fractions With Unlike Denominators (Ans: Proper Fractions)
- Add Fractions With Unlike Denominators (Ans: Mixed Numbers)
- Subtract Fractions With Unlike Denominators
- Subtract Fractions From Whole Numbers
- Add And Subtract Fractions With Unlike Denominators
With editable templates and a digital option available through Easel, this activity is perfect for differentiation and can be used in a variety of ways, from math centers to bulletin board displays.
Suitable for Singapore Primary 4 and 5, or Grade 4 and 5 students, and also useful for reviewing Primary 4/5 Standard Maths or Primary 6 Foundation Math.
Related Read: Back To School Crafts: 5 Steps To Make Interesting Folding Surprise Puppet
3) Games
The easy way or probably the best way to get students excited about the topic is to play games!
This math resource is ideal for Singapore Primary 3 students and covers the addition and subtraction of related fractions, which are fractions with unlike denominators that are multiples of each other.
With nine different types of fraction games, a pair of students or students in small groups can enjoy mastering their math skills without spending too much time.
These games are for students who want to practice addition and subtraction of unlike fractions in a fun way.
Of course, there are other math skills such as equivalent fractions, conversions of improper fractions and mixed numbers. But I will just point out the add and subtract fractions skills available for each game.
Here are the 7 Math Games & Their Math Skills:
1. Maze
- Add & Subtract Fractions
- Add & Subtract Fractions Mazes For Partners
2. Five-In-A-Row
- Add & Subtract Unlike Fractions
3. Four-In-A-Row
- Add & Subtract Unlike Fractions
4. Race For Food
- Add & Subtract Unlike Fractions
5. Make A Cross
- Add Unlike Fractions
- Subtract Unlike Fractions
6. Equation Maker
- Add Unlike Fractions
- Subtract Unlike Fractions
7. Squares
- Add Unlike Fractions
- Subtract Unlike Fractions
These games are suitable for Singapore Primary 4 students.
4) Boom Cards Practice
Boom Cards are digital interactive task cards that provide an engaging and interactive way for students to practice skills and have fun learning!
They’re super flexible and can be used in lots of different ways, whether you’re in the classroom or doing remote learning.
The best part is that they give you instant feedback, so students will know they got the correct answer right away and ensure they are practicing the right way.
Plus, the interactive features like drag-and-drop and multiple choice make learning really engaging and fun! It’s no wonder students and teachers love them!
For example, in Addition Of Mixed Numbers With Regrouping and Subtraction of Mixed Numbers with Regrouping, students can move the bars to visualize regrouping. It is like an online manipulatives or visual models, but without the mess and the need to clean up after them.
Furthermore, in this Boom Cards bundle of Mixed Numbers Adding And Subtracting, you get a variety of questions types and ample practice for your students to do.
If you don’t have a Boom Learning account, now is the time! New users will receive a 10% discount on individual subscriptions with this link.
Remember to check out the various digital task cards in my Boom store!
Disclaimer: I may earn a referral prize when you use my discount at no additional cost from you.
5) Game Show
In my Fraction game show series (Quizzes On Fractions), one of the categories is to add and subtract fractions. There are other fractions problems such as word problems for students to tackle.
If you are looking for a way to keep your students engaged while practicing their math skills throughout the year, you’re in luck!
With a range of exciting themes to choose from, you can mix things up and keep it fresh for your students.
So why not give it a try and see how much fun math can be?
This is perfect for pairs, groups or whole class review.
Related Read: 3 Types Of Math Gameshow Every Students Love & Rave About
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, adding and subtracting fractions activities are essential for upper elementary and middle school students to develop a strong foundation in this essential math skill.
The five activities discussed in this blog post, including Weave A Pic, Cut & Paste Worksheets, Games, Boom Cards Practice, and Gameshow, are engaging and effective strategies for teaching adding and subtracting fractions.
By incorporating these activities into math lessons, educators can help students solidify their conceptual understanding of this essential math skill.
If you’re ready to take the next step and put these resources into action, head over to our store now and start your journey towards success!
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