Fractions on a Number Line – Teaching Tools

Ask any upper years teacher what the most challenging maths topic to teach is…and you’ll most likely hear a chorus of FRACTIONS! They’re tough, and to make it more difficult, students transition from the standard visual models (pie, bar, etc.) that they know and love to look at fractions on a number line. Then students must dive into mixed numbers and equivalent fractions, and the fraction train falls off the track. Sometimes, they just don’t get it, and you must find a way to help them over the hurdle.

That’s where we come in. We’ve put together a visual model of fractions on a number line to help you and your students. This resource download includes an enlarged fraction number line modelling halves, fifths, and tenths for you to use as an instructional tool and two printable versions for your students to use during maths lessons. With the visual model, students can identify the wholes, halves, fifths, and tenths as they appear between zero and two. We’ve also made sure to mark fractions with equivalents and note those in different colours. This model stretches five pages and is easily assembled with tape to connect the sheets.

Printable Fraction Number Lines for Halves, Fifths, and Tenths

We’ve included two variations of the number line for your students to use as reference tools.

• Version 1 is a fully complete number line, perfect for lamination and everyday use as a reference during lessons.
• Version 2 is an entirely blank number line on which students record the fractions as they appear during instructional sessions. This version can be a note-taking tool, exit ticket, or formative assessment.

Download and Print Your Number Line With Fractions

This resource downloads as an editable Google Slides or quick-print PDF file. All you have to do is click the download button, print your file, and make your copies.

Lorin Davies, a Teach Starter collaborator contributed to this resource.