These free printable fractions colouring sheets are such a clever way to help children see the relationships between fractions. Try these STEAM activities to help your children understand how fractions work by combining art and math.
Fractions printables to color in
:: compare fractions in different shapes
:: compare fractions in shapes of different sizes
:: understand how different fractions can add up to a whole
:: discriminate between simple fractions quickly
:: use art in combination with math for a fun and effective STEAM lesson
How to use the colour-in fractions printable
Print the colour-in fractions sheets – see below for details. Print on card if possible, to make it easier to play with the fractions later.
There are three fractions sheets included in the printable:
:: one sheet that works on halves
:: one sheet that works on quarters
:: one sheet that creates a fractions anchor chart jigsaw – see here for more details of this printable fractions anchor chart
You will also need coloured pens or pencils.
Begin with the halves sheet. Invite your children to use the coloured pens and pencils to shade in half of every shape on the page.
Invite them to use their favourite colours and to have fun with patterns and designs.
Notice that the page includes squares, rectangles, triangles, and circles. Talk about how all the shapes can be split in half. You can talk about lines of symmetry too. Can all shapes be split in half? Can all shapes be split in half symmetrically?
Talk about how the half you are colouring in can be made up of any sections of the shape. They don’t have to necessarily shade the top, or the left, or sections which are right next to each other.
How can creative can they be in the shading of their halves?
Then complete the quarters printable in the same way.
Notice that you have several circles, of different sizes. How does the size of each circle’s quarter compare to the others? How does the size of each circle’s quarter compare to the circle it’s in?
Fractions activities using shapes
Once you have coloured in the halves and quarters of all your shapes you can play with them. Cut out the shapes and try these fractions activities:
Can you quickly sort the halves from the quarters? Time yourself and see how fast you can sort. Can you beat your partner?
Take a look at all the squares. How many different ways can you shade in a quarter of a square?
Pick out one of each of your shapes: a circle, a rectangle, a square, and a triangle. Talk about what shape each shaded half creates: circles split into semi-circles, squares split into triangles.
Compare two rectangles, and two circles. Notice how the shading can cover different sections of each shape and still colour in half of each.
Swap and re-assemble the shapes: Cut up your shapes into fraction shapes, and collect everyone’s pieces together. How many sections will you need to make a complete shape? Swap sections with your friends and then re-assemble them into complete shapes with a mix of everyone’s patterns.
More fractions activities and printables
Looking for more fraction lesson ideas? Try these fractions activities too:
Colour In Fractions printable – download instructions
You’ll find the Colour In Fractions printable in the Math Printables section of the NurtureStore Printables Library. To access the Library follow the instructions immediately below.
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