Partition a Whole - Fraction Strips

Videos, examples, solutions, and lessons to help Grade 3 students learn how to specify and partition a whole into equal parts, identifying and counting unit fractions by folding fraction strips.

Common Core Standards: 3.G.2, 3.NF.1

NY Common Core Math Grade 3, Module 5, Lesson 2
Worksheets for Grade 3

Application Problem
Anu needs to cut a piece of paper into 6 equal parts. Draw at least three pictures to show how Anu can cut her paper so that all the parts are equal.

Concept Development

1. Take one strip of paper and fold it to make halves.
   How many equal parts do you have in the whole? Two.
   What fraction of the whole is 1 part? 1 half.
   
2. Draw a line to show where you folded your paper.
   
3. Write the name of the unit onto each equal part.
   
4. Fold and label strips showing fourths and eighths to start, followed by thirds and sixths, and fifths and tenths.

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Lesson 2 Problem Set Sample Solutions

1. Circle the strips that are folded to make equal parts.
2. There are _______ equal parts in all. _______ are shaded.
   For the following problems, use your fraction strips as tools to help you.
3. Noah, Pedro, and Sharon want to share a whole candy bar fairly. Which of your fraction strips shows how they can each get an equal part? Draw the candy bar below. Label to show who gets which part. Label the fraction of the candy bar Sharon gets.
4. To make a small playhouse for his toy truck, Zeno took a rectangular piece of thin cardboard and bent it in half. He then bent each half in half again. Which of your fraction strips matches this story well?
   a. What fraction of the original cardboard is each part? Draw and label the matching fraction strip below.
   b. Zeno took a different piece of cardboard and bent it in thirds. He then bent each third in half again. Which of your fraction strips matches this story well? Draw and label the matching fraction strip in the space below.

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Concept Development & Homework

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Lesson 2 Homework

1. Circle the strips that are cut into equal parts.
2. There are _______ equal parts in all. _______ are shaded.
3. Dylan plans to eat 1/5 of his candy bar. His 4 friends want him to share the rest equally. Show how Dylan and his friends can each get an equal share of the candy bar.
4. Nasir baked a pie and cut it in fourths. He then took each of the pieces and cut them in half.
   a. What fraction of the original pie does each piece represent?
   b. Nasir ate one piece of pie on Wednesday and two pieces on Tuesday. What fraction of the original pie was not eaten?

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Students fold fraction strips, then shade in the units.

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