Free printable fraction strips you can download, print, and cut out for interactive math manipulatives practice. Our Fraction strips are available in black and white or color, blank, or with labels. We’ve also created fun fraction strip learning center mats, as well as engaging chocolate bar fractions that are sure to capture the hearts of elementary math students.
Free Fractions Strips to Print
Fraction strips are rectangular strips of paper divided into equal parts, representing different fractions. Each strip is typically the same length but divided into a different numbers of equal sections (halves, thirds, quarters, etc.). These visual aids help students understand fraction relationships, equivalence, and operations in a fun, hands-on way.
This set of printable fraction strips includes the following sizes:
1 1/2 1/3 1/4 1/5 1/6 1/8 1/9 1/10 1/11 1/12
Printable Fraction Strips
Print our free fraction strips on cardstock and laminate for durability. Cut apart after laminating and you’ll have your own set of beautiful, full-color fractions strips you can use as math manipulatives in your classroom.
Blank Fraction Strips
This set of fraction strips is available blank, or unlabeled. Students will use their own mathematical reasoning skills with this set that can be used in a variety of ways. Each value remains color-coded for making equivalent fractions.
How to Use Printable Fraction Strips
Start by having your child or students lay different fraction strips side by side – it’s amazing to watch their eyes light up when they discover that 2/4 is exactly the same length as 1/2! Encourage them to play detective and find more matching pairs. You can take it a step further by creating what I like to call a “fraction wall” – basically stacking up different strips that equal the same amount. Kids love seeing how many different ways they can make the same fraction!
Fraction Strips Template Black & White
This black and white set of printable fractions strips can be used in a variety of ways. First, you could have students color their own set of fraction strips to aid in visual learning. Second, you might consider having students cut and paste the colorful strips (above) to this fraction strip board.
Blank Black & White Fraction Strip Template
Here is a blank version of our black and white fraction strips. These can be used to prompt students to label the sections, or to cut and paste the colorful fractions into place.
List of Equivelent Fractions to Make a Whole
Here are some quick equations you can try with your students to make a whole. These use fractions with varying denominators. Practice first by making equivalent fractions and fractions that add up to 1/1. Then play our Fractions Learning Center game for extra hands-on fun. Print our free fractions charts for student reference tools at your table.
10 Ways to Make a Whole Worksheet
Challenge your students to make 1 whole 10 different ways! Students can paste their fractions strips or even DRAW in each section they are using to make a whole. Here are some helpful equations to get them started:
- 1/2 + 1/3 + 1/6 = 1
- 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/4 = 1
- 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 + 1/8 = 1
- 1/4 + 1/4 + 1/4 + 1/4 = 1
- 1/6 + 1/6 + 1/6 + 1/2 = 1
- 1/8 + 1/8 + 1/4 + 1/2 = 1
- 1/3 + 1/6 + 1/6 + 1/3 = 1
Hands-On Learning Games with Fraction Strips
Our printable fraction strips are versatile and practical. When kids are struggling with adding or subtracting fractions, they can literally line up the pieces to see how 1/4 + 1/4 makes 1/2. No more abstract concepts – it’s right there in their hands! And because they’re hands-on, kids tend to remember what they learn much better than if they just memorized rules from a textbook.
Fraction Strips Learning Center Game
This single or multiplayer fraction strip game is sure to be a hit in your classroom. Students roll the dice and place the fraction on their empty bar. The first player to create 1 whole (without going over) is the winner!
Chocolate Fraction Bars
Teach fractions with our free printable chocolate fraction bars! What a fun way to work on equivalent fractions–but connecting it to real items your students are already familiar with. Connect this to measurement skills and challenge your students to build a chocolate bar with THREE whole ounces with as few pieces as possible. Then give them EXACT numbers of pieces they must create the bar with. The challenge to share is on!
Blank Fraction Bars
Free printable blank fraction chocolate bars for student manipulatives. These printable fraction bars increase the difficulty level as they are blank, unlabeled fractional pieces of a whole. These can be used for learning center activities, group games, estimation practices, I have-who has, and a variety of other projects. You could even print and fold instead of cutting, to introduce younger students to the concept of equal parts.
How to Teach with Printable Fraction Strips
- Start with paper folding! Have kids create their own strips by folding paper into equal parts. When they physically fold a strip in half, then in half again, they’ll naturally discover that 1/2 = 2/4. This hands-on start makes the concept stick.
- If you are making your own construction paper fraction strips – use the same color for each denomination (all 1/4 strips in blue, all 1/3 strips in red, etc.). This visual connection helps kids quickly spot equivalent fractions and patterns.
- Start with bigger fractions (halves, fourths) before introducing smaller fractions (thirds, sixths).
- Laminate all strips if you can, they will last much longer!
- When ready, try our free printable fractions worksheets for learning to compare, add, subtract, and even plot fractions on a number line.
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