5 Ways to Practice Adding and Subtracting Fractions

Welcome to the wonderful world of fractions! Adding and subtracting fractions can be a challenging concept for students, but there are many engaging activities that can make practicing and mastering this skill engaging and fun. In this post, I’m going to share five activities you can use when you are teaching adding and subtracting fractions. They are sure to be a hit in your classroom!

Adding and Subtracting Fractions Board Games

Adding and subtracting unlike fractions game with game board and question cards

Have you tried using adding and subtracting fractions math games in your practice classroom?

Kids need more opportunities to play and strengthen their social skills. They also need plenty of opportunities to practice new math skills. There are many academic and social benefits to playing math board games.

Math games help students practice their math skills in a fun and interactive way, making practice more engaging. Math games also challenge students to think critically and apply their math knowledge in real-world situations.

adding and subtracting like fractions game with game board and question cards

Students also develop and practice social skills while playing games. Games encourage teamwork and collaboration and build positive relationships among classmates. Upper elementary students enjoy the competitive aspect of games. Math games provide an opportunity to practice winning and losing in a low-risk environment.

Adding and subtracting fractions games can be used for partner activities, in math centers, as a fun review activity, or in math small groups.

Adding and Subtracting Fractions Matching Puzzles

Adding unlike fractions matching puzzle. Cards with ice cream scoops and dishes to match.

Matching puzzles provide students with a hands-on and interactive activity for them to practice adding and subtracting fractions. With most matching puzzles students need to match up the two or three puzzle pieces that fit together to make an equation.

By physically matching the puzzle pieces, students are given a tactile way to manipulate the different parts of a fraction addition or subtraction equation.

As they match more and more pieces, students are easily able to see their progress.

Subtracting fractions matching puzzle. Cards with fish tanks with questions and fish with answers to match.

Students can self-correct and rework any incorrect answers, which can help deepen their understanding of the concept.

Adding and subtracting fractions matching puzzles can be used in a variety of settings, such as in small group activities, independent work, early finisher activities, or in math centers. They can even be used as a form of assessment.

CLICK HERE for adding fractions matching puzzle

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Fraction Addition and Subtraction Task Cards

Adding and subtracting fractions word problems task cards inside of a green task card box and a purple task card box.

Use task cards to help students practice adding and subtracting fractions while incorporating movement into your lesson. Hang up the task cards around the classroom. Students get up and move from card to card and they solve the problem on each task card and record their solutions on an answer sheet.

Giving students the opportunity to get up and move as they practice adding and subtracting fractions can be highly engaging!

Task cards also give students the opportunity to work at their own pace. They can solve the task cards in any order or skip cards they have questions about and come back to them later.

You can allow students to work on task cards independently or with a partner. Working through fraction addition and subtraction problems with a classmate allows students to support and learn from each other.

Using task cards also allows for differentiated instruction. Teachers can choose cards that are appropriate for each student’s ability level or direct students to only answer a specific number of cards.

Fraction Addition and Subtraction Worksheets

Adding and subtracting fractions matching worksheets next to two spiral notebooks — Try these adding and subtracting fractions matching worksheets for a fun, interactive, and self-correcting practice activity!

Say goodbye to worksheets with 30 problems crammed onto a page that ask students to solve the same type of problem over and over.

Worksheets can be created in a way that is meaningful, fun, and engaging for students. Color by number, riddles, cut and paste matching, multiple choice, mazes, and thematic or holiday skill sheets are all much more engaging for students to complete.

CLICK HERE for adding fractions matching worksheets

CLICK HERE for subtracting fractions matching worksheets

Self-Grading Google Forms

Students love activities that incorporate technology!

Google Forms are an engaging way for students to practice adding and subtracting fractions! Google Forms can also be set up to allow students to immediately see their score when they finish. This immediate feedback is a great way for students to keep track of their own progress.

You can even use Google Forms as a way to assess students’ proficiency with fraction addition and subtraction. The best part, they are self-grading which means less work for you!

Use Google Forms with 3-5 questions as a quick exit ticket for adding and subtracting fractions. Use more questions for practice or a summative assessment.

Google Forms adding and subtracting fractions digital activity shown on an iPad next to two spiral notebooks

There are many engaging and easy to use activities that upper elementary teachers can incorporate into their lessons on adding and subtracting fractions. Whether it’s through math board games, task cards, or matching puzzles, each activity provides students with a different opportunity to practice and strengthen their fraction skills.

CLICK HERE for adding and subtracting like fractions Google Forms

CLICK HERE for adding and subtracting unlike fractions Google Forms

So next time you’re feeling stumped on how to make adding and subtracting fractions a little more fun, try incorporating one of these practice activities into your plans.