Students have to simplify fractions from 3rd grade on. They just keep showing up again and again. Some topics show up once or twice and then go away, but that’s not the case with simplifying fractions. I remember one particular moment with simplifying fractions that has really stuck with me. I was working with my 8th grade math lab class, and as they solved equations they had to simplify the answer. They had completed this very complicated process and then when they got to the end of it, they didn’t remember how to simplify a fraction. I got a little frustrated and said to one student, “Why do you keep learning this skill again and again? Why don’t you figure out how to remember it?” Maybe not the best approach, but I was legitimately puzzled. So, today’s post tackles simplifying fractions with eleven fun activities that will get students lots of practice, and hopefully help it stick forever!
Many students experience a lack of efficiency with their learning. The concepts don’t become cemented in their minds. Simplifying fractions has to be cemented or else students will have to learn it dozens of times. In order for the cementing process to happen, students need a lot of practice over a somewhat extended period of time. I’ve curated a collection of activities that can help at the beginning stages of learning or years later to help students remember simplifying fractions.
The list of simplifying fractions activities:
Simplifying Fractions Dominoes
Online Soccer Game
Let’s dive in
Let’s look at the activities and how they can work in your classroom. Every activity works for different parts of a lesson. Some of them are perfect to start a lesson, and others are perfect for a review activity. Check them out and see how these activities would work best in your classroom with your students.
Maze
The feedback that I’ve received over the years about math mazes has been so positive. Students react in a such a positive way to them. It really seems like they don’t realize how much practice they get when they complete a maze. I use mazes as a way to start each class and then I have students come and check them with me. If they have a mistake, they go back to their seat and fix it. It gives me a chance to talk to every student every day.
This set of mazes is a collection of 3 mazes where students will simplify fractions and choose the correct path. I use this with my students in my 7th and 8th grade math lab class and with our special education students. It works for other grade levels as well. It is a no prep, easy way to get students practicing.
If you want to check out a free simplifying fractions maze today, you should totally join the Maze of the Month Club. Once you confirm your email address, you’ll have a simplifying fractions maze sent right to your inbox. Then, as a member of the Maze of the Month, you’ll get a FREE new math maze sent right to your inbox each month, as well as easy to use tips and ideas to help make math time awesome. Hope to see you there!
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Coloring Page
Coloring activities give students a little brain break and can act as motivation for them to work. I try to make sure that the pictures aren’t too big and they just spend a few minutes coloring. Some of my students respond very positively to this type of activity and it makes me feel good that I can find activities for all types of learners.
This coloring activity for simplifying fractions has 20 questions and two pictures that students color. It has a dinosaur theme and is very whimsical. This is just another opportunity to show students that math doesn’t have to be drudgery.
Knockout Game
When you need to review with the whole class, a knockout game is the way to go. It has 16 questions for the students to answer and gives you a chance to see what they know. I always play this game with individual whiteboards so that every students is showing work and their answers. The fun part of this game is that students get points and there are bonuses to earn along the way. Just this week when I asked my students what their favorite activity in my class was I had multiple students say they love the knockout games the most.
Simplifying Fractions Dominoes
Sometimes I go into the math manipulatives closet at my school and I see the dominoes sitting on a shelf. Who knows when they were bought or with what purpose. But then I see activities like this one from Runde’s Room, and I can’t wait to use those lonely dominoes. In this post she shows ideas on using dominoes to simplify and compare fractions (you need to scroll down the page a bit to get there). What a great opportunity to use dominoes in a fun way! Kids love using dominoes.
6 Questions to Ask Flip Chart
When I think about how math works, it seems like a series of questions. But students who struggle with math often don’t seem to know what questions to ask. This series of questions helps students see what they need to know when they simplify fractions. I love how the author has crafted the questions, and if students can ask these types on their own, they’ll have a lot more success. You can also get a free download of an anchor chart or a flip book in this blog post. Check it out.
Skittles Fractions
Every day when I pick my two little boys up from daycare they go behind the front desk and ask for a Skittle candy. Asking for this little piece of candy each day has been great for both of my boys. One of them has a speech delay and the other one is pretty shy, so it’s a great way for them to practice asking for something and saying thanks. Apparently, Skittles can be used in a lot of different ways. One of them is even to help students practice reducing fractions. This Skittles fractions activity from Teaching with a Mountain View works perfectly as an anticipatory set. You just need a small pack of Skittles per kid and this free worksheet. This activity also works with other types of candy, if you’re not a Skittles fan. Or, if you don’t want to use candy, you could do this same activity with dinosaur counters or colored erasers. The options are endless, well, endless within reason.
Number Rock Video
Music has a power to help people remember things. Videos like this one can help students remember a process as long as they hear the music over and over. You can play the song as students come into the room or when they’re working. The more that they hear it, the better they’ll remember it. Students love music. And whenever the music might come across as cheesy, I just own the cheese and go with it. I’ve learned it’s much more fun when you don’t take yourself too seriously. 
Pac-Man
When I was a kid I loved Pac-Man. Chasing the ghosts and trying to clear the board was fun then and it’s just as fun now. With this version of the game from Sheppard Software the ghosts have fractions on them in simplest terms and you have to eat the right ghost at the right time. I love when you can find activities like this where students just want to play it over and over. They get a lot of practice with the concept and have fun at the same time.
Soccer
One of the nice features of this online simplifying fractions soccer game is that students can play against each other. Sometimes I like to throw in some friendly competition. This game gives kids some simplifying problems and then they try to score a goal. What a perfect activity for fast finishers or as a center. GOAL!!!!!!
Catapult Game Online
Due to the nature of this concept of simplifying fractions, you can find a wide range of free online games to play. This catapult fractions game from Fractions4Kids is similar to the others that I’ve shared above and has engaging graphics. The animals throw stuff at each other which kids seem to like to watch. Students get a chance to practice simplifying fractions and play a game at the same time. You can even take all three of the online games I’ve shared in this post and have a simplifying fractions tournament.
Quizizz
I’ve used Quizizz a few different ways in my class. If you’re not familiar with Quizizz, it’s an online quiz game where students answer questions and compete with one another, similar to Kahoot. One of the ways that I like to use it as an activity for students to complete a Quizizz game after their warm-up activity. Not every students gets to finish it every day, but most of the students get to finish and the reports feature of the program lets me know how they are doing. The Quizizz platform has a lot of good reporting for you to see how the class is doing per question and overall. Also, you can find many practice Quizizz, like this simplifying fractions set, created by other teachers for your students to complete.
Try one thing
In this post we’ve looked at a variety of activities. Some of them may work better in your class than others. My challenge to you is to find one new thing to try out and see how it goes. Students really appreciate your willingness to try new things. Everything doesn’t need to be new all the time, but some novelty can go a long way. Keep in mind that students need to practice this skill early and often. They’ll need to simplify fractions for years to come.
Thanks so much for reading. Until next time!
