Teaching Fractions on a Number Line

I never knew how complicated teaching fractions on a number line in 3rd grade could be until I started doing it. Every year that we had to teach how to put fractions on a number line or name a fraction on a number line, I used to cringe. This is all until I discovered the BEST STRATEGY EVER for teaching this objective.

My co-teachers encouraged me to share this strategy with you all. They were amazed at how easy it could be to teach fractions on a number line 3rd grade when you use this strategy. I was the one that taught them how to teach fractions on a number line. So now I am sharing two strategies that I completely rely on in order to teach fractions on a number line in 3rd grade. These same teachers are the reason I shared my hands on place value activities In my other blog post.

In this article, I will share with you my amazing strategies with pictures. I will also show you the printables I use to prepare my students for our state test.

Don’t Make My Mistakes

The first few years of teaching fractions my students failed most number line activities. I couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong. No matter how many times I told my students to count the spaces, not the tick marks, I still had so many students count the tick marks. Then that left them with their denominator being 1 digit larger.

I even had the students come up as a group and stand in front of the class to form a number line. Wet took flashcards that were labeled each with a different fraction and the class worked to put the fraction cards where they belonged on the number line. During the activity, they seemed to know what they were doing. Although, when applied to a worksheet the results were always a bust.

You can avoid making these mistakes very easily. The only thing you need to do is try the two strategies that I am going to share with you below. If you apply the strategies then more of your students will get these types of problems correct. You will also enjoy teaching fractions again because your students will understand how to get the correct answers.

3rd Grade Fractions on a Number Line

Alright, here it is… all you have to do is turn the number line into a picture that represents the parts of the whole. Okay yeah, that sounds confusing but just follow these easy steps. You will have your third graders “ace-ing “their next fractions on a number line worksheet.

First, give them a number line with a fraction plotted on it.

Now, have them draw a rectangle around the fraction from the 0 to the 1. Using the tick marks, they will break the rectangle into pieces.

They count up how many pieces make the whole and this is their denominator. Then they shade the pieces until they get to the plotted fraction. However many spaces they shaded, is their numerator.

Once I show my students that a number line can just be a picture with shaded parts, they suddenly think fractions on a number line are EASY PEASY! And honestly, teaching how to put fractions on a number line became easy for me as well.

Another AMAZING strategy for plotting fractions on a number line

There is also another strategy that I teach for plotting fractions on a number line. We call it jumps on a number line. Give the students a number line. Now, ask how many jumps does it take for you to get from 0 to 1. So they put their pencil on 0 and start jumping until they get to one. However many jumps they did is their denominator.

After they have found the denominator, they then find the numerator. To find the numerator they put their pencil on 0 and start jumping until they get to the plotted fraction. However many jumps they had to do is their numerator. Now read the fraction by saying we had to make 3 jumps out of the 8 jumps to make the whole.

After I started implementing these two strategies into my teaching, my students were finally able to identify and locate fractions on a number line.  All of a sudden, it is like the lightbulb came on. They suddenly understand that from 0 to 1 on a number line is a whole number.

You can achieve these same results just by making a few changes. These strategies might seem stupid to you or too babyish, but don’t knock it until you have tried it. They can even be applied to older grade levels. In older grade levels teach the students to draw the box only between 0 and 1. Teach them to only count the jumps from 0 to 1. Refresh their memory of one whole number so that when they get improper fractions they get the whole correct.

Worksheet Fractions on a Number Line

I use this fractions on a number line activity in my classroom in order to practice there ability to recognize or represent fractions on a number line in third grade. First, use a couple of questions from an exit ticket as whole group practice and modeling. Then put them with partners and use the fraction on a number line task cards to have them go around the room and practice. After going over the answers to the task cards, then give them an exit ticket to assess whether they can do it independently or not. Then the following week or two later, insert the fractions on a number line games into their center time. This helps them revisit the objective.

These resources are included in this fractions on a number line printable. I am very selective at what I choose for the model practice problems, task cards, and exit ticket. This is because all activities have the same 20 questions, so I do not want to repeat a question. I choose the exit tickets first (one for me modeling and one for independent practice). Then I choose the 10 leftover problems out of the task cards to put around the room. These fractions on a number line hands on activities have allowed me to feel confident in my teaching of my fraction unit.

Everything for Fractions in One Place

I also have the complete bundle that allows me to do everything I stated above with all different fraction objectives. Everything from representing fractions,  comparing fractions, equivalent fractions, the sum of unit fractions, and even partitioning fractions. All of my fraction needs are taken care of. Also, I know that I am preparing my students for our state assessment. If you have any questions or need any more suggestions do not hesitate to reach out to me. You can contact me through email at teachthroughthechaos@gmail.com, or message me on Facebook or Instagram. I’ll be happy to help!