Grade 3 Fractions Vocabulary word search, scramble and crossword puzzl

Grade 3 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 when we started using the vocabulary. They also kept mixing up "proper fraction" and "improper fraction." So I put together a word search, a word scramble, and a crossword using words like fraction, part, whole, half, third, quarter, numerator, denominator, equivalent, compare, and number line . I also included a few like "greater," "less," and "equal" because they kept coming up when we compared fractions . Nothing fancy — just puzzles to help the vocabulary finally stick.

The PDF is four pages. Three puzzles plus one answer key page. The word search works well for quiet time after recess or independent practice. The scramble gets them talking because they argue about the spelling of "denominator" (it's a tricky one) or whether a numerator tells you how many parts you have (it does—they always have opinions about it) . The crossword I use for partners or as a review, and I usually have fraction bars or a fraction pizza chart nearby for the kids who need the visual support to see the parts and the whole . I added a couple simple pizza slice and fraction bar drawings but nothing too busy.

Works for 3rd through 4th grade. Print and go. Sometimes I have early finishers draw a pizza and shade half of it, labeling the fraction on the back. The kids actually ask for these now.