A Fractions Escape Room for Subtracting Like Fractions

You and your classmates encounter a group of mysterious shape shifters who have the ability to transform into various animals and creatures. Unfortunately, one of them has stolen your homework, and you need to figure out which one it is. 

To do this, you must solve a series of fraction subtraction puzzles. Each task will reveal a clue about the culprit’s description, helping you narrow down the suspects.

Welcome to “The Shape Shifters,” an escape-room-style game based on subtracting fractions with like denominators. In order to find the clues required to discover the identity of the homework-stealing shape shifter, the students will work through four subtracting like fractions worksheets, each based on a particular strategy. The strategies covered in this fractions escape room include:

• Number lines
• Pictorial models
• Standard algorithm

Watch your students’ excitement levels rise as they answer the fractions questions, put the clues together and discover the identity of the guilty shape shifter!

Easily Implement This Fractions Escape Room

The resource download (quick-print PDF or digital/editable Google Slides file) contains everything you need to easily implement this subtracting like fractions escape room in your classroom. The resource contains:

• Escape Room Scenario –This page sets the scene for the students, explaining the scenario and the purpose of the task in detail.
• List of Shape Shifters – This table names the five shape shifters who may have stolen the homework: Flora the Fox, Bruno the Bear, Ella the Eagle, Max the Mouse and Leo the Lizard.
• Student Challenges – Students will discover clues by completing four subtracting like fractions worksheets. Each clue will allow them to eliminate a suspect.
• Answers – These very secret pages are for the teacher’s eyes only!

Students could work on this escape room independently, or you could add an element of friendly competition by having the students work together in teams with the aim of being the first group of sleuths to name the culprit!

Download to Subtract Like Fractions

Use the Download button to access your preferred file format.

For sustainability purposes, please consider printing this booklet double-sided. Be sure to remove the answer pages before distributing the resource to your students!

This resource was created by Kaylyn Chupp, a teacher in Florida and a Teach Starter collaborator.

More Student-Centered Resources for Teaching Fractions

Looking for more fractions resources to encourage collaboration and problem-solving in your classroom? Check out these great teacher-created, curriculum-aligned activities! 

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