Fraction Collage

This great activity helps kids to better understand the concept of fractions by visually and tactilely practicing them.

Supplies:
Construction paper in a variety of colors, black marker, scissors, ruler, pencil, and glue stick

Instructions:
1.  Choose a simple fraction to begin with.
2.  Have your students write this fraction on a sheet of construction paper with the black marker. Have them show you the numerator (top number) and the denominator (bottom number).
3.  In the beginning, a rectangle will be the easiest shape for the collage.  Later on you can try this with a circle using wedges, or triangles linked to each other in a row.  Have them draw a rectangle on another color of construction paper using the pencil and ruler.  You may need to show them an example first.   Make sure the dimensions of the shape are in whole inches, ideally in a multiple of the denominator so the shape will be easy to cut up. For example, if your fraction is 2/3, you could make a rectangle that is 6" long, since 6 is a multiple of 3.
4.  Then using the ruler, divide this rectangle up into equal segments based on the denominator.  In this example from number 3 you would divide the rectangle into 3, 2" segments.
5.  Have them cut out the whole shape from the construction paper and glue it onto the construction paper where you wrote the fraction, but on the other side.  This way they can test themselves later on as a reviewing technique.
6.  Now have them choose a third sheet of construction paper in a different color than the shape. Using the   same measurements you used in step 4, draw a number of rectangular segments equal to the numerator of the    fraction. Using the same example again, you would cut two, 2" wide segments so they fit into the segments of the whole rectangle.
7.  Cut out these pieces and glue them consecutively on the shape within segments drawn.  Now your first fraction collage has been created!
8.  You can then move on to other more difficult fractions and shapes or try this link for Additional Web Practice Using Fraction Collages