Fraction Worksheets For 2nd-5th Grade: Free And Printable Resources

Fraction worksheets are an essential resource for both students and teachers from grades 2 through 5. They help build foundational understanding of fractions and provide structured practice for students to master fractions by developing both procedural fluency and conceptual understanding.

From understanding equal parts and unit fractions to performing operations with fractions and converting between fractions and decimals, these fraction worksheets focus on building understanding to set students up for success across all areas of mathematics and advanced mathematical topics. These fundamental skills are crucial not only for success in later mathematics, but also for real-world problem solving – think cooking, baking, shopping, discounts!

This fractions worksheets and guide provides teachers with resources for 2nd-5th grade students to help build a strong foundation in fractions through concrete, pictorial, and abstract representations. Each math worksheet is designed to develop specific fraction skills while addressing common misconceptions to develop strong math proficiency.

How children learn fraction strategies

Children learn fraction concepts and operations progressively through elementary school. The learning process begins in second grade with foundational geometry skills, where children explore partitioning shapes into equal parts and build the language of halves, thirds, and fourths. This concrete introduction to fractions by dividing shapes sets the stage for deeper understanding.

In third grade, children make the crucial leap to understanding fractions as numbers that can be represented on a number line. They learn that fractions represent equal parts of a whole or equal parts of a set, working extensively with unit fractions (fractions with a numerator of 1) as the building blocks for all other fractions. Third graders develop strategies for comparing fractions, recognizing equivalent fractions, and using visual models to explain their reasoning.

Fourth grade expands children’s fraction knowledge significantly as they learn adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators, decompose fractions in multiple ways, and multiply fractions by whole numbers. They also begin connecting fractions to decimals, understanding how fractions with denominators of 10 and 100 relate to our base-ten number system.

By fifth grade, children perform calculations with fractions, including addition and subtraction with unlike fractions and multiplication of fractions by fractions. They use various strategies and fraction bar models to understand these operations, from area models for multiplication to number lines for addition and subtraction. Fifth graders also learn dividing fractions, including dividing unit fractions by whole numbers and whole numbers by unit fractions, completing their elementary understanding of fraction operations.

Fractions are taught concurrently with whole number operations, and teachers often connect fraction concepts to students’ prior knowledge of whole numbers while carefully addressing common misconceptions about how fractions behave differently from whole numbers.

Why we’ve brought together these fraction worksheets

We’ve spoken with hundreds of educators who tell us they want a bank of ready-to-go fraction worksheets to use with their elementary schoolers both in class and to set as homework. Teachers consistently express the need for resources that progress from concrete representations and math manipulatives to abstract thinking, helping students build strong conceptual understanding of fractions.

Third Space Learning is passionate about making math accessible to all learners and closing the math achievement gap while saving teachers time! We understand that teaching fractions can be particularly challenging, as students often struggle with conceptualizing these abstract numbers and their relationships. Simplifying fractions is a key foundational skill that aids in mastering operations involving fractions.

This guide brings together our collection of fractions for kids worksheets for teachers to use to help students build strong foundational skills with fractions and develop both procedural fluency and conceptual understanding. Our resources support the progression from simple fractions through to complex operations, ensuring students develop the confidence and competence they need for success in mathematics.

What to expect from these fraction worksheets

Math experts have designed every worksheet in this collection so they align with the Common Core State Standards. And, each worksheet can be adapted to state-specific standards. The worksheets thoughtfully progress from concrete models and visual representations to more abstract fraction concepts, supporting the natural development of student understanding.

Every printable worksheet, complete with an answer key, is designed to provide learners with the necessary fraction practice to help master the skills required to reach proficiency at each grade level. The worksheets incorporate multiple representations of fractions – including area models, number lines, and set models – and cover operations such as subtracting fractions to help students develop robust conceptual understanding alongside computational skills.

Each resource includes carefully scaffolded problems that address common misconceptions and support diverse learning needs. The worksheets balance procedural fluency with conceptual understanding, ensuring students not only can compute with fractions but also have a solid grasp of what fractions represent and how they behave in different mathematical contexts.

How to use these fraction worksheets

There are many ways to use these printable worksheets, both in and out of the classroom. To download the appropriate worksheet, click the link in this guide, enter your email address and the worksheet will be sent to your inbox.

Some of the ways you can use these worksheets to solidify learners’ understanding and fluency of fraction concepts include:

• Independent practice in class or math centers;

• With math intervention groups;

• Math station tasks;

• Math warm ups;

• As part of the school’s math curriculum;

• At home math practice.

These worksheets can be particularly effective when used alongside manipulatives and visual models, such as fraction circles, fraction strips, or number lines. Teachers can also use them for pre-assessment to identify gaps in understanding, or as post-instruction practice to reinforce new concepts. Activities like identifying fractions on number lines or through visual models can further enhance comprehension. The answer keys make them ideal for self-checking stations and homework assignments.

Fraction worksheets by grade

This guide includes explanations of the fraction concepts learners will need to know at each stage of elementary school. Each grade level builds upon previous understanding, from initial exploration of equal parts in second grade through to complex operations with fractions in fifth grade.

You’ll find fraction strategies, worked examples, mixed fractions, and a practice problem for learners to complete in addition to the relevant Third Space Learning fraction worksheet for each grade. Every example includes visual models and representations to support conceptual understanding, alongside clear explanations of solution strategies.

The progression follows how children naturally develop fraction understanding – starting with concrete models and pictorial representations to visualize fractions before moving to more abstract concepts. Each grade level section highlights common misconceptions students might encounter and provides specific strategies teachers can use to address these challenges.

Let’s begin with second grade, where students start their journey with fractions by exploring equal parts of shapes and sets.

2nd grade fraction worksheets

Second grade math introduces children to the foundations of fractions through geometry and equal sharing. Children learn to partition circles and rectangles into equal parts, recognizing and describing these parts as halves, thirds, and fourths. This concrete introduction helps students understand that equal shares of identical wholes must be the same size and that a fraction represents equal-sized parts of a whole. At this stage, students also begin to work with proper fractions, which are fractions less than one.

Students begin by physically cutting shapes into equal parts and describing shares using words like “halves” and “fourths.” They learn that when a shape is partitioned into equal shares, each share is the same size, regardless of its shape. Second graders also discover that a whole can be partitioned in multiple ways while still representing the same fraction.

The emphasis in second grade is on developing the language and conceptual understanding of equal parts through hands-on experiences. Students explore how the more equal shares they create, the smaller each piece becomes – laying groundwork for understanding fraction size in later grades.

Worked examples

Example 1

Partition a rectangle into thirds

Answer: A rectangle divided into three equal parts First, start with a rectangle and discuss that we want to share it equally among three people. Next, show that we can partition the rectangle either horizontally or vertically, but each part must be the same size. Demonstrate that we can check our work by cutting out the parts and placing them on top of each other – if they’re equal shares, they will match exactly.

Example 2

Finding halves in different shapes, such as circles, rectangles, hexagons, etc.

Answer: Demonstrate that each shape can be partitioned into halves in different ways. Emphasize that regardless of how we partition, each half must be exactly the same size.

Practice problem

Ms. Garcia brought 6 identical brownies to share equally among 3 students at her small group table. If each student should get the same amount, what fraction of each brownie should each student receive? Draw a picture to show your thinking.

Answer: Each student should get 2 whole brownies, or \frac{1}{3} of the total set of brownies. We can show this by drawing 6 brownies and circling groups of 2 to show each student’s equal share.

3rd grade comparing fractions worksheets

Third grade marks a significant shift in fraction understanding as children transition from only working with shapes to understanding fractions as numbers. Students learn that fractions represent parts of a whole unit and can be represented on a number line. This grade focuses heavily on developing fraction number sense through comparing fractions, finding equivalent fractions, and understanding unit fractions as the building blocks for all fractions. It is crucial for students to understand fractions to effectively simplify, compare, and perform operations involving them.

Third graders begin by understanding unit fractions (fractions with a numerator of 1) as equal parts of a whole. They learn that the denominator tells how many equal parts the whole is divided into, and the size of these parts gets smaller as the denominator gets larger. Students then build non-unit fractions by combining unit fractions, understanding that \frac{3}{4} means three pieces that are each \frac{1}{4}.

A key development in third grade is placing fractions on a number line, which helps students see fractions as numbers with specific values, not just parts of shapes. This helps them to complete basic operations, such as addition and subtraction. Students also compare fractions with the same numerator or same denominator using visual models and reasoning about their size.

Worked examples

Example 1

Locate \frac{2}{6} on a number line

Answer: \frac{2}{6} is located between 0 and 1 on the number line

First, divide the interval from 0 to 1 into 6 equal parts to create sixths. Next, understand that each jump represents \frac{1}{6}. Count two jumps from zero to locate \frac{2}{6}. Demonstrate that \frac{2}{6} is equivalent to \frac{1}{3} by marking both on the same number line.

Example 2

Use the greater and less than sign to compare these fractions \frac{2}{4} and \frac{2}{6}

Answer: \frac{2}{4} > \frac{2}{6}

First, draw two identical rectangles to represent one whole. Partition one rectangle into fourths and one into sixths. Shade \frac{2}{4} on one rectangle and \frac{2}{6} on the other. Compare the shaded amounts visually to see that \frac{2}{4} covers more area than \frac{2}{6}. Explain that with the same numerator (2), the fraction with the smaller denominator (4) is larger because the pieces are larger.

Practice problem

Marcus and Sofia each ordered the same size pizza. Marcus ate \frac{3}{8} of his pizza, and Sofia ate \frac{3}{4} of her pizza. Who ate more pizza? Use a visual model to explain your thinking.

Answer: Sofia ate more pizza.

If we draw two identical circles representing the pizzas and divide Marcus’s into eighths (eating 3 pieces) and Sofia’s into fourths (eating 3 pieces), we can see that \frac{3}{4} is greater than \frac{3}{8} because the fourths are larger pieces than eighths. We can also show this on a number line where \frac{3}{4} = \frac{6}{8}, which is greater than \frac{3}{8}.

4th grade fraction worksheets

Fourth grade significantly expands students’ fraction knowledge and logical thinking by introducing operations with fractions. Students learn to add and subtract fractions with like denominators, multiply a fraction by a whole number, and understand decimal notation for fractions. They also develop deep understanding of fraction equivalence and ordering, using these concepts to compare fractions with different denominators.

Fourth graders learn to decompose fractions into smaller fractions in multiple ways, understanding that \frac{3}{4} can be broken down as \frac{1}{4} + \frac{1}{4} + \frac{1}{4} or \frac{2}{4} + \frac{1}{4}. This decomposition helps them understand addition and subtraction of fractions conceptually. Students also connect their understanding of multiplication as repeated addition to multiply fractions by whole numbers, seeing that 3 x\frac{2}{5} means adding \frac{2}{5} three times.

A crucial development in fourth grade is connecting fractions to decimals. Students learn that fractions with denominators of 10 or 100 can be expressed as decimals, building the foundation for decimal operations in later grades.

Worked examples

Example 1

Adding fractions with like denominators \frac{5}{8} + \frac{2}{8}

Answer: \frac{7}{8}

Let’s solve this step by step:

1. First, draw a model of eighths using two rectangular bars of the same size

2. In the first bar, shade \frac{5}{8}

3. In the second bar, shade \frac{2}{8}

4. Notice that since both fractions have the same denominator (8), we can simply add the numerators (5 + 2)

5. The sum is \frac{7}{8}, which we can verify by counting all the shaded parts

Example 2

Multiply 3 x \frac{2}{5}

Answer: \frac{6}{5} 6/5 as an improper fraction or 1\frac{1}{5}

Let’s break this down:

1. Start by understanding that 3 x \frac{2}{5} means we’re adding \frac{2}{5} three times

2. Draw three number lines from 0 to 1, each divided into fifths

3. On each number line, mark \frac{2}{5}

4. Count all the fifths: \frac{2}{5} + \frac{2}{5} + \frac{2}{5} = \frac{6}{5}

5. Show that \frac{6}{5} can be written as 1\frac{1}{5} by noting that five fifths make one whole

Practice problem

The recipe for Sarah’s favorite smoothie calls for \frac{3}{4} cup of frozen strawberries and \frac{5}{4} cup of frozen mango chunks. Questions: a) How many cups of frozen fruit does the recipe use in total? Show your work using both a visual model and an equation. b) If Sarah wants to make this smoothie for herself and three friends, how many cups of strawberries will she need? Draw a model to explain your thinking.

Answer: a) \frac{3}{4} + \frac{5}{4} = \frac{8}{4} = 2 cups total

5th grade fractions worksheets

Fifth grade represents the culmination of elementary fraction understanding, where students master complex operations with fractions. They learn to add and subtract fractions with different denominators, multiply fractions by fractions, and divide unit fractions by whole numbers and whole numbers by unit fractions. This grade level emphasizes real-world applications to fraction word problems, critical thinking and interpreting the meaning of fraction operations in context.

Students learn to find common denominators using their understanding of equivalent fractions and least common multiples. When multiplying fractions, they use area models to visualize why procedures work, understanding that \frac{1}{3} × \frac{1}{4} represents finding katex]\frac{1}{3}[/katex] of \frac{1}{4}. Fifth graders also interpret division with fractions, understanding that dividing by \frac{1}{2} is the same as multiplying by 2, and dividing by a fraction less than 1 results in a quotient larger than the dividend.

The focus in fifth grade is on developing efficient strategies while maintaining conceptual understanding. Students learn to estimate fraction sums, differences, and products to check the reasonableness of their answers.

Worked examples

Example 1

Adding fractions with unlike denominators \frac{2}{3} + \frac{1}{4}

Answer: \frac{11}{12}

Let’s solve this step-by-step:

1. First, identify that we need a common denominator to add these fractions

2. Find the least common multiple of 3 and 4: 12

3. Convert each fraction to an equivalent fraction with denominator 12:

   • \frac{2}{3} = \frac{8}{12} (multiply numerator and denominator by 4)

   • \frac{1}{4} = \frac{3}{12} (multiply numerator and denominator by 3)

4. Add the numerators: \frac{8}{12} + \frac{3}{12} = \frac{11}{12}

Example 2

Multiply fractions \frac{2}{3} × \frac{3}{4}

Answer: \frac{1}{2}

Let’s understand this using an area model:

1. Draw a rectangle representing one whole

2. Divide it horizontally into 3 equal parts and shade 2 parts (\frac{2}{3})

3. Divide it vertically into 4 equal parts and shade 3 parts (\frac{3}{4})

4. The doubly shaded area represents \frac{2}{3} of \frac{3}{4}

5. Count the total small rectangles (12) and the doubly shaded ones (6)

6. Therefore, \frac{2}{3} × \frac{3}{4} = \frac{6}{12} = \frac{1}{2}

Practice problem

A local bakery uses \frac{3}{4} cup of chocolate chips for each batch of cookies. Questions: a) If they want to make 2\frac{1}{2} batches of cookies, how many cups of chocolate chips will they need? Draw an area model to show your thinking. b) They have 6 cups of chocolate chips in total. How many complete batches can they make? Show your work using division with fractions. c) How many cups of chocolate chips will be left over?

Answer: a) \frac{3}{4} × 2\frac{1}{2} = \frac{3}{4} × \frac{5}{2} = \frac{15}{8} = 1\frac{7}{8} cups

Where to find more adding and subtracting fractions worksheets and resources

Browse the Third Space Learning resource library for more free resources. You’ll find a selection of free printable worksheets, topic guides and additional resources on Numbers and Quantity, with specific focus on fraction concepts and operations.

In addition to a wide range of free worksheets, topic guides and resources, Third Space Learning provides one-on-one math tutoring for struggling students.

Math curriculum experts carefully design each lesson to align with Common Core and state-specific standards. Meaning students across the U.S. signed up to our math programs follow personalized pathways aligned to their state.

Because lessons take place online, schools can organize lessons to suit their schedule, before, during or after school. The one-on-one nature allows targeted support for each individual student to help them build strong foundational understanding of fractions.

Fraction key takeaways

Fractions are taught using a spiral curriculum from 2nd grade through 5th grade. In this progression students:

• Learn fractions by first understanding equal parts of shapes and sets before transitioning to fractions as numbers

• Build conceptual understanding using concrete models and visual representations before moving to abstract procedures

• Progress from unit fractions to operations with all types of fractions

• Learn equivalent fractions and comparing fractions before performing operations. This includes multiplying and dividing.

• Apply fraction concepts to real-world problems and situations

Teachers can support students by providing multiple representations of fractions, including area models, number lines, and set models. Regular use of manipulatives and visual models helps students develop strong conceptual understanding alongside procedural fluency.

Do you have students who need extra support in math?
Give your students more opportunities to consolidate learning and practice skills through personalized math tutoring with their own dedicated online math tutor.

Each student receives differentiated instruction designed to close their individual learning gaps, and scaffolded learning ensures every student learns at the right pace. Lessons are aligned with your state’s standards and assessments, plus you’ll receive regular reports every step of the way.

Personalized one-on-one math tutoring programs are available for:
– 2nd grade tutoring
– 3rd grade tutoring
– 4th grade tutoring
– 5th grade tutoring
– 6th grade tutoring
– 7th grade tutoring
– 8th grade tutoring

Why not learn more about how it works?

Fraction worksheets FAQs