Fractions Vocabulary word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

Fractions Vocabulary word search, scramble and crossword puzzle

I made this fractions vocabulary puzzle set for my 3rd graders during our math unit. The kids could point to half of a pizza but had no idea what words like numerator, denominator, or equivalent meant. So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like fraction, numerator, denominator, part, whole, equal parts, half, third, fourth, equivalent, compare, greater, less, proper fraction, improper fraction, mixed number, and number line. Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the fraction terms finally stick.

The PDF is four pages. Three puzzles plus one answer key page. The word search works well for quiet time after recess. The scramble gets them talking because they argue about whether the numerator or denominator tells how many parts you have. The crossword I use for partners with pie chart clues. I added a couple simple pizza slice and fraction bar drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 3rd through 5th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers write the fraction for half and label the numerator and denominator on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.