Get on a Roll with Fractions!

Does the idea of a worksheet full of improper fractions make your child – and you – shudder?  Instead of suffering through another worksheet with your child, why not practice improper fractions in a hands-on, interactive way?  “Fraction Roll” is a fast and fun activity in which your child uses ordinary dice to identify and compare proper and improper fractions. Once your child is an expert at identifying these new fractions, turn the activity into a game.  Your child will get to show off his new understanding of improper fractions – and maybe later he’ll complete that dreaded worksheet on his own!

What You Need:

• paper
• pencils
• dice

What You Do:

Step 1:
Review improper fractions with your child.  Roll the dice and write two fractions using the numbers you rolled.  For example, if you roll 2 and 6, write 2/6 and 6/2 on the paper.  Explain to your child that 2/6 is a proper fraction and 6/2 is an improper fraction.  Explain that an improper fraction is “top-heavy” meaning the denominator (top number) is larger than the numerator (bottom number).  Give your child a memory cue to help:  “An improper fraction is impossible because you cannot get 6 out of 2 correct on a test.  A proper fraction is possible because you can get 2 out of 6 correct on a test”.

Step 2:
On your paper, make a two-column chart.   At the top of one column, write “proper” and at the top of the other column, write “improper”.  Roll the dice and make two fractions.  Write the proper fraction in the “proper” column and the “improper” fraction in the “improper” column.  Continue rolling and making fractions with your child until he easily recognizes both types.

Step 3:
Now you are ready for the game!  Explain to your child that it is easy to change an improper fraction to a proper fraction by making it a “mixed number”.  For example, if the improper fraction is 6/4, you divide the top number (6) by the bottom number (4).  4 goes into 6 one time with two left over, so 6/4 written as a mixed number is 1 2/4, which reduces to 1 1/2.

Step 4:
Give each player a sheet of paper and tell them to make a two-column chart.  Label the first column “Improper Fraction” and the second column “Mixed Number”.  The first round begins by Player 1 rolling and writing the improper fraction on his chart.  Next, he should change the improper fraction to a mixed number and record it on his chart.  Once each player has a chance to roll and record his fractions, compare mixed numbers.  The player with the largest mixed number wins the round.  The winner is the first player to win 10 rounds!

Note:
If your child is having difficulty converting improper fractions to mixed numbers, use colored M&M’s to show her the process.  If the fraction is 6/4, line up 6 red M&M’s above 4 green M&M’s.  Match up 4 reds with 4 greens, how many reds are left?  Use the M&M’s for prizes when you play the game!