Fraction War

Skill: Comparing Fractions | No. of Players: 2 } Set-up: Quick

Instead of drawing one card, students draw two cards to build a fraction in this version of war. Students then compare the fractions built with the largest fraction taking all the cards used that round.

Materials:

• Deck of cards (remove jacks, queens, and kings)

• Record sheet

• *Optional: Fraction tiles/chart

How to play:

1. Split the group of students in pairs and give each a deck of cards. Explain in this game Aces will be worth 1.

2. Each player draws two cards to form a fraction. The lower of the two cards will be the numerator and the larger will be the denominator.

3. Players then compare their created fractions. The player with the larger fraction wins the cards for that round. Have students write and draw the comparison on the recording sheet.

4. Play continues until all cards have been used. The player with the most cards at the end win the game.

5. Have discussion about strategies used to compare fractions, how visual representations helped to understand fractions, and if any rounds were difficult to compare fractions and why?

Modifications:

1. Early fraction learners: Remove the 5, 7, and 9 from the decks as these are numbers that are not often used in early sense making of fractions.

2. Advanced fraction learners: If improper fractions have been taught, the first card draw can be the numerator and the second card drawn can be the denominator.