Resources/Intro to fractions: equal parts and unit fractions
Grade 3•Printable worksheet + answer key•CC0 license

Intro to fractions: equal parts and unit fractions

A printable lesson focused on understanding fractions as equal parts.

Students learn to identify unit fractions, label parts of a whole, and locate fractions on a number line.

Print-ready worksheet with answer key and quick teaching tips.

Grade 30 problems10 minAnswer key included
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Ready-to-teach

Clear steps, examples, and practice in one printable page.

Misconception-proof

Highlights common mistakes and how to fix them quickly.

Open license

CC0: free to copy, adapt, and share without attribution.

Quick overview

This free intro to fractions worksheet for grade 3 builds understanding of equal parts and unit fractions.

Lesson plan snapshot

15-20 min
  • Warm-up (3 min): show equal parts with paper folding.
  • Model (5 min): solve the worked example together.
  • Guided practice (5 min): complete problems 1-3 as a group.
  • Independent practice (7 min): finish the remaining problems.

Materials: fraction circles, pencil

Learning targets

  • Identify unit fractions like 1/2, 1/3, 1/4.
  • Recognize that parts must be equal.
  • Place fractions on a number line from 0 to 1.

Step-by-step approach

  1. 1Decide what the whole is.
  2. 2Divide the whole into equal parts.
  3. 3Count the parts shaded to write the fraction.
  4. 4Use a number line to compare fraction sizes.

Common mistakes

Mistake

Counting unequal parts as a fraction.

Try instead

Only count parts that are equal size.

Mistake

Thinking 1/4 is bigger than 1/3 because 4 is bigger.

Try instead

More parts means smaller pieces.

Mistake

Forgetting to label the whole.

Try instead

Circle or outline the whole before writing a fraction.

Worked example

Guided
A circle is split into 4 equal parts and 1 part is shaded. What fraction is shaded?
  1. There are 4 equal parts total.
  2. 1 part is shaded.
  3. So the fraction is 1/4.
Answer: 1/4

Related resources

Fractions

Add and compare fractions with unlike denominators.

View resource

Multiplication

Arrays and equal groups for grade 3.

View resource

Word problems

Multi-step reasoning and equation setup practice.

View resource

Practice problems

8 problems • 12 min

Printable worksheet
  1. 1
    Write the unit fraction for one of 8 equal parts.
  2. 2
    Write the unit fraction for one of 10 equal parts.
  3. 3
    Write the unit fraction for one of 6 equal parts.
  4. 4
    Write the unit fraction for one of 4 equal parts.
  5. 5
    Write the unit fraction for one of 12 equal parts.
  6. 6
    Write the unit fraction for one of 5 equal parts.
  7. 7
    Write the unit fraction for one of 3 equal parts.
  8. 8
    Write the unit fraction for one of 2 equal parts.

Answer key

8 answers
  1. 11) 1/8
  2. 22) 1/10
  3. 33) 1/6
  4. 44) 1/4
  5. 55) 1/12
  6. 66) 1/5
  7. 77) 1/3
  8. 88) 1/2

Teacher tips

  • TUse fraction circles or paper folding to show equal parts.
  • TAsk students to explain what the denominator means.
  • TUse number lines to compare unit fractions.

Parent tips

  • PUse pizza slices or chocolate bars to show equal parts.
  • PAsk your child to identify the whole before shading.
  • PCompare 1/2 and 1/4 with real objects.

Open license

You are free to copy, adapt, and share these materials. No attribution required. Released under Creative Commons CC0 1.0 (public domain).