Teaching fractions at KS2 calls for clear visual models, hands-on manipulatives, and lessons that build understanding from Year 3 to Year 6. Fractions make up a big part of the primary maths curriculum, linking to decimals, percentages, and proportional reasoning. The right resources can mean the difference between pupils who understand fractions and those who find the concepts too abstract.
Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole and a former primary teacher with over 15 years of classroom experience, says, “The key to teaching fractions well is helping children see them as numbers with real meaning, not just parts of a shape. When you use different resources like Cuisenaire rods, number lines, and practical activities, children get a much stronger sense of what fractions actually mean.” LearningMole is a UK educational platform that creates curriculum-aligned video resources and teaching materials for primary schools across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
This guide gathers the most effective fractions resources for KS2, including free worksheets, interactive games, and full lesson sequences. You’ll find practical ways to teach equivalent fractions, adding and subtracting fractions, and connecting fractions to decimals and percentages from Years 3 to 6.
Fractions sit at the heart of primary maths. Children start with simple ideas in Year 3 and reach more complex work by Year 6. The numerator and denominator show parts of a whole, and understanding these terms helps children make sense of equivalent fractions, adding fractions, and converting between fractions and decimals.
The word fraction comes from the Latin ‘fractio’, meaning breaking something into pieces. A fraction stands for one or more equal parts of a whole object or amount.
Every fraction has two numbers. The numerator sits on top and tells you how many parts you have. The denominator sits on the bottom and tells you how many equal parts the whole splits into.
For example, in ¾, the 3 shows you have three parts. The 4 means the whole divides into four equal parts. You might use a fraction wall to help children see these relationships.
Children need to see that fractions only work when the parts are equal. If you cut a pizza into different sized slices, those aren’t proper fractions, as the pieces aren’t the same size.
Fractions in KS2 maths set the stage for decimals, percentages, and ratio work later on. If children don’t get fractions, they struggle with those topics too.
The National Curriculum expects Year 3 pupils to recognise and write simple fractions like ½, ⅓, and ¼. By Year 6, they should multiply and divide fractions confidently, including mixed numbers. Teachers need to build this step by step.
Children who miss key ideas early on often find maths harder in later years. Understanding equivalent fractions helps with simplifying, and knowing how fractions and division connect supports problem-solving in maths.
Your pupils need to know certain words to talk about fractions clearly. The numerator and denominator are the basics. Children also need to know unit fractions (numerator is 1, like ⅕) and non-unit fractions (like ⅗).
Equivalent fractions show the same value in different forms, like ½ and ²⁄₄. A mixed number combines a whole number with a fraction (2¾), while an improper fraction has a numerator bigger than its denominator (¹¹⁄₄).
Other useful terms:
Year 3 and Year 4 classes usually start with simple words, then add more as children move through KS2.
Children in Key Stage 2 meet several types of fractions, each one building their understanding of parts and wholes. The numerator and denominator work together to show how many parts you have and how many equal parts make up the whole.
Unit fractions always have 1 as the numerator, such as ½, ⅓, or ¼. These fractions mean one part of a whole split into equal pieces. If you show children a pizza cut into four equal slices, and they take one, they’ve got ¼ of the pizza.
Non-unit fractions have a numerator greater than 1, like ⅔, ¾, or ⅘. Teaching these fractions in KS2 helps children see that fractions can mean more than one part of a divided whole. If a child eats three slices from that four-slice pizza, they’ve eaten ¾.
Year 3 pupils start by recognising and using both unit and non-unit fractions with small denominators. They learn to write these fractions and spot them in sets of objects. The denominator tells you how many equal parts the whole splits into, and the numerator tells you how many parts you have.
Improper fractions have a numerator equal to or bigger than the denominator, like ⁵⁄₄ or ⁷⁄₃. These fractions stand for values bigger than or equal to one whole. You can use KS2 fractions worksheets to help children practise changing between these forms.
Mixed numbers (or mixed fractions) combine a whole number with a proper fraction, like 1¼ or 2⅓. If you change ⁵⁄₄ to a mixed number, you get 1¼ because five quarters is one whole plus one quarter. Children usually learn this in Year 4 and Year 5.
Your pupils need to see that ⁵⁄₄ and 1¼ mean exactly the same amount, just written differently. Using fraction walls or bars helps children picture this clearly.
Tenths come from dividing something into 10 equal parts. Year 3 children count up and down in tenths and learn that dividing by 10 makes tenths. One tenth is ¹⁄₁₀, which links straight to the decimal system.
Hundredths show up when you divide an object into 100 equal parts, written as ¹⁄₁₀₀. Year 4 pupils learn that hundredths also come from dividing tenths by 10. This sets them up for working with decimals later.
These fractions matter because they link fractions to decimals and place value. Three tenths (³⁄₁₀) is 0.3, and twenty-five hundredths (²⁵⁄₁₀₀) is 0.25. Children use this when working with money and measurements.
Students gain real confidence with fractions when they see that different fractions can mean the same value and learn how to compare their sizes. These skills set them up for adding, subtracting, and simplifying fractions later on.
Equivalent fractions mean the same part of a whole, even if they look different. For example, 1/2, 2/4, 3/6, and 4/8 all show the same amount.
You can help your students spot and make equivalent fractions by multiplying or dividing both the numerator and denominator by the same number. If you multiply 1/2 by 3/3, you get 3/6. Divide 4/8 by 4/4, and you get back to 1/2.
Visual models make this idea much clearer for Year 4 and Year 5 learners. Use fraction strips, bars, or circles cut into sections so children can see that 2/4 covers the same space as 1/2. Number lines work well because students can put equivalent fractions at the same spot on the line.
LearningMole has free video tutorials that show equivalent fractions using animated fraction walls and interactive examples matched to the National Curriculum. Reducing fractions to their lowest terms lets students work with simpler numbers in calculations.
Comparing fractions means figuring out which one is bigger, smaller, or if they’re equal. If the denominators match, just compare the numerators: 3/8 is less than 5/8 because 3 is less than 5.
If the denominators are different, you need to change them to equivalent fractions with a common denominator. To compare 1/3 and 2/5, use 15 as the common denominator. Change 1/3 to 5/15 and 2/5 to 6/15, then compare: 5/15 is less than 6/15, so 1/3 is less than 2/5.
Quick comparison tips:
Teaching comparing fractions with visuals helps Year 5 students see why these tricks work.
Ordering fractions takes comparing a step further, arranging three or more fractions from smallest to biggest or the other way round. This comes up a lot in Year 5 and Year 6 tests.
Start by changing all the fractions to have the same denominator. To order 1/4, 2/3, and 3/8, pick 24 as the common denominator. 1/4 becomes 6/24, 2/3 becomes 16/24, and 3/8 becomes 9/24. Now you can order them: 6/24, 9/24, 16/24, which means 1/4, 3/8, 2/3.
You can also use a number line to show the order. This works for mixed numbers and improper fractions too. Put each fraction on the line by its value, then read them left to right for smallest to biggest.
When you compare and order fractions with different denominators, finding the lowest common denominator makes things quicker and cuts down on mistakes. Year 6 students really benefit from practising this, as it gets them ready for ratio and algebraic fractions in Key Stage 3.
Students need to see how fractions, decimals and percentages connect if they’re going to build good number sense. These three ways of showing parts of a whole pop up across the KS2 maths curriculum and, honestly, everywhere in daily life.
When students convert fractions to decimals, they start to realise these are just different ways to show the same thing. Teach this by dividing the numerator by the denominator. For example, ½ turns into 0.5 when you divide 1 by 2.
I recommend starting with simple fractions that have denominators of 10 or 100. These are easier because our decimal system runs on tens. So, 3/10 becomes 0.3. Likewise, 47/100 becomes 0.47.
Encourage students to memorise common fraction and decimal pairs. Some key ones: ¼ = 0.25, ¾ = 0.75, and ⅕ = 0.2. Once these stick, other conversions come more easily.
You’ll find worksheets for converting between fractions and decimals that let students practise the process. Repetition helps them get more confident with conversions.
Percentages are basically fractions out of 100, so the conversion is pretty simple once students get this. To change a fraction into a percentage, multiply it by 100. For example, 3/5 becomes 60% because 3 ÷ 5 is 0.6, then 0.6 × 100 gives 60.
Year 5 and Year 6 students should understand that ‘per cent’ literally means ‘per hundred’. This helps them picture percentages as parts of a whole split into 100 pieces.
The National Curriculum expects students to know common conversions. Make sure they remember that ½ = 50%, ¼ = 25%, and ⅕ = 20%. These set the groundwork for trickier conversions.
Hands-on activities really help when teaching fractions, decimals and percentages. Games and activities focused on converting between these formats give children the chance to practise and explore.
LearningMole has video tutorials that break down the steps for converting between fractions, decimals and percentages. You can also check out interactive teaching resources for fractions, decimals and percentages for whiteboards and tablets.
Sorting activities are a favourite in many classrooms. Give students cards with equivalent values and ask them to match the sets. For example, they could group ½, 0.5 and 50% together.
Real-world problems show students why these conversions matter. Ask them to work out sale prices with percentages, measure ingredients using decimals, or share things out using fractions.
When students learn to add and subtract fractions, they build on their understanding of equivalent fractions and finding common denominators. Year 5 and Year 6 pupils usually work with both like and unlike denominators, moving from simple fractions to mixed numbers.
If fractions share the same denominator, just add or subtract the numerators and keep the denominator as it is. For example, 2/7 + 3/7 equals 5/7. Similarly, 4/9 – 1/9 gives 3/9, which you can simplify to 1/3.
This skill shows up early in KS2, often in Year 3 or Year 4. You can use fraction bars or circles split into equal parts to make it visual. Adding fractions KS2 activities help pupils practise with a range of problems.
Key points to teach:
Subtracting fractions with different denominators means you need to find a common denominator first. The least common multiple of both denominators usually keeps things tidy.
Take 3/4 – 1/3 as an example. The denominators are 4 and 3, so the least common denominator is 12. You turn 3/4 into 9/12 and 1/3 into 4/12, then subtract to get 5/12. Worksheets for adding and subtracting fractions give students a chance to practise this step-by-step.
By Year 5, pupils should handle denominators up to 12. Year 6 students work with any denominator and mixed numbers too. When subtracting mixed numbers like 3 1/4 – 1 2/3, you can either change both to improper fractions or subtract the whole numbers and fractions separately.
Visuals really help students get why you need a common denominator. Use fraction walls, bar models or area models to show, for example, how 1/2 and 1/4 become 2/4 and 1/4 on the same diagram.
Start with practical tools before moving to written methods. Fraction strips or counters let pupils physically combine or remove parts. LearningMole has video resources that use clear visual models for these concepts.
Progression steps:
Short, regular practice seems to beat long, isolated lessons. Try weaving fraction operations into daily arithmetic and word problems to help fluency grow.
Students deepen their understanding of fractions by learning to multiply fractions and find fractions of amounts. Dividing fractions introduces the idea of how many parts fit into a whole.
To multiply fractions, simply multiply the numerators together and then the denominators. For example, 1/2 × 3/4 gives 3/8 because 1 × 3 is 3 and 2 × 4 is 8.
When multiplying a fraction by a whole number, write the whole number as a fraction over 1. So, 5 × 2/3 becomes 5/1 × 2/3, which equals 10/3, or 3 1/3 if you prefer a mixed number. Pupils should always simplify their answers if they can.
Teaching resources for multiplying and dividing fractions usually include visual models. If you have mixed numbers, convert them to improper fractions first. For example, 2 1/2 × 1/4 means you change 2 1/2 to 5/2, then multiply to get 5/8.
Finding fractions of amounts is about working out what a fraction of a number is. To find 1/4 of 20, divide 20 by 4, which gives you 5.
For a fraction like 3/5 of 30, divide by the denominator first (30 ÷ 5 = 6), then multiply by the numerator (6 × 3 = 18). This two-step approach helps students see that fractions of amounts mix division and multiplication.
Key steps for fractions of amounts:
Real-life examples make this stick. You could ask pupils to find 2/3 of 24 students on a trip, or 3/4 of £40 pocket money. LearningMole has free video tutorials with practical examples that fit Year 5 and Year 6.
To divide fractions, use the ‘keep, change, flip’ method. Keep the first fraction, change division to multiplication, and flip the second fraction. So, 1/2 ÷ 1/4 becomes 1/2 × 4/1, which is 2.
The National Curriculum brings in division of fractions in Year 6, focusing on dividing proper fractions by whole numbers. For example, 1/3 ÷ 2 is like finding half of one-third, which gives 1/6.
Visual models help here, too. Draw a bar split into thirds, then split each third in half, and you’ll see six equal parts. Worksheets with answers for multiplying and dividing fractions let students practise and check their work.
Pupils need to understand that dividing by a fraction less than 1 actually makes the answer bigger. This feels odd at first, but it makes sense if you think about how many quarters fit into a half.
KS2 students need to know how to write fractions in their simplest form by dividing both parts by the same number. They also need to work backwards from a fraction to figure out what the whole amount was to start with.
Simplifying fractions means making them as small as possible without changing their value. Divide both the numerator (top number) and denominator (bottom number) by the same number.
This works because fractions show equal parts of a whole. When you divide both numbers by a common factor, you just group those equal parts together. For instance, 6/8 simplifies to 3/4 because both 6 and 8 divide by 2.
Year 6 students practise simplifying fractions using common factors. The trick is to find the highest common factor, though dividing by smaller numbers a few times works too.
Use visual models like fraction walls or bars so students can see that 4/6 and 2/3 are the same amount. Worksheets with answers give them a chance to practise and check their understanding.
When students get a unit fraction and its value, they multiply to find the whole. For example, if 1/5 is 3, then the whole is 3 × 5, which gives 15.
Year 5 lessons cover finding the whole when the size of a unit fraction is known. This skill builds on earlier work with fractions as operators.
Students need to realise that if one part has a certain value, they can work out the total by thinking about how many equal parts make up the whole.
LearningMole gives free video resources that explain these ideas with clear visual examples for KS2 learners. Bar models show these problems well, placing the known fraction and the unknown whole side by side.
Students start building their understanding of fractions in Year 3 and continue through to Year 6. They move from recognising simple fractions to handling more complex calculations.
This sequence helps children develop the foundational knowledge they need for secondary maths.
The National Curriculum splits fractions teaching into 10 segments across Years 3 to 6. Each year builds on what came before.
Year 3 focuses on recognising and finding unit and non-unit fractions of shapes and numbers. Children compare fractions with the same denominator and start to add and subtract fractions with common denominators.
Year 4 introduces the link between fractions and decimals. Pupils work with tenths and hundredths, learning to spot equivalent fractions using visual models.
In Year 5, students multiply proper fractions and mixed numbers by whole numbers. They also write percentages as fractions with denominator 100.
Year 6 brings everything together. Children add and subtract fractions with different denominators, multiply pairs of proper fractions, and divide proper fractions by whole numbers. Teaching resources and worksheets support this work.
Year 6 pupils need confidence with improper fractions, mixed numbers, and the links between fractions, decimals, and percentages before secondary school. They should solve multi-step problems involving all four operations with fractions.
LearningMole provides free video tutorials for converting between fractions, decimals, and percentages using visual methods. These ideas set the stage for secondary topics like ratio, proportion, and algebra.
Students going into Year 7 must recognise equivalent fractions without needing visual aids. They should know common fraction-decimal-percentage equivalents such as 1/4 = 0.25 = 25% off by heart.
Your teaching should focus on mental methods as well as written calculations to build fluency.
Teachers need a variety of materials to help students grasp fractions. The right mix of worksheets, visual tools, and interactive games supports different learning styles across KS2.
Fractions worksheets give structured practice with skills like equivalent fractions, comparing fractions, and finding fractions of amounts. You can get comprehensive worksheets for Year 3 to Year 6 that match the National Curriculum.
Answer sheets save time and let pupils check their own work. This helps build independence and lets students spot mistakes quickly.
Differentiated worksheets are handy for mixed ability groups. You can give simpler problems to pupils who need support and challenge higher achievers with trickier calculations. Many teaching resource collections offer several levels for the same topic.
A fraction wall shows different fractions stacked in rows so pupils can see equivalence and size relationships. Each row stands for one whole split into equal parts, like halves, thirds, quarters, and fifths.
You might put a big fraction wall on your classroom wall for whole-class teaching. Pupils quickly spot that 2/4 equals 1/2 when the pieces line up.
Cuisenaire rods give another strong visual approach. These coloured blocks let students build fractions physically and explore how different fractions relate. Teaching guides suggest using rods to show that fractions go beyond one whole.
Bar models and number lines also help visual learners. These tools show that fractions are numbers, not just parts of shapes.
Fractions loop cards create a chain, with each card’s answer matching a question on another card. The whole class takes part as students read their card aloud and listen for their matching question.
Loop cards work well for practising equivalent fractions and simplifying fractions. They keep everyone engaged because all pupils need to pay attention.
Fraction dominoes use similar matching, but they’re better for pairs or small groups. Students match equivalent fractions or fractions with their decimal equivalents. You can find educational resources with ready-made fraction games.
Interactive games make fraction practice more enjoyable and build fluency. Games that involve ordering fractions or finding fractions of amounts help pupils use their knowledge in different situations.
Teaching fractions becomes more effective when students can see, touch, and move physical representations. Games and group activities reinforce abstract ideas, and problem-solving tasks help deepen understanding.
Physical manipulatives turn abstract fraction ideas into something students can touch and see. Pattern blocks let students build visual models of fractions by combining shapes to make wholes. You can use these to show equivalent fractions and for addition problems.
Paper plates work well for showing parts of a whole. Cut them into halves, quarters, and eighths to make reusable fraction puzzles. Students match pieces or put them in order from smallest to largest.
Pool noodles offer a creative way to teach fractions. Cut them into different lengths and label each piece with its fraction value. Students use these pieces to add, subtract, or make equivalent fractions with hands-on exploration.
Everyday items like Oreos and measuring cups bring real-world context to lessons. Students can split biscuits to show halves and quarters or use measuring cups at a maths station to see how smaller fractions make larger ones.
Card games work well as fraction activities for maths stations. Fraction War uses playing cards where each player draws two cards, one as the numerator and one as the denominator. The player with the highest simplified fraction wins.
Popular fraction games include:
Roll and cover games are good for independent practice. Students roll a die and colour in the matching fraction on their board. The first player to complete a row or fill their board wins. These games need little preparation and give lots of practice with recognising fractions.
Real-world problem-solving helps students see why fractions matter. Sports give good contexts for fraction work. Football matches have four quarters, basketball courts split into halves, and swimming races use fractions of the pool.
Code-breaking activities let students use fraction knowledge in new ways. They might decode messages by matching fraction representations to letters or solve puzzles where they find equivalent fractions to reveal answers.
Interactive notebooks let students record their fraction learning with pictures and written explanations. They can make flip charts for equivalent fractions or pocket pages for vocabulary cards. These notebooks become personal reference tools.
Digital manipulatives give another way to solve problems. Students drag and arrange virtual fraction pieces on tablets or computers to complete challenges and show what they know.
Teachers often want to know where to find engaging materials and how to tackle tricky fraction topics in KS2. These questions cover practical concerns about worksheets, activities, and resources for different year groups.
Cuisenaire rods give pupils a hands-on way to see fractions as physical quantities. You can use different coloured rods to show equivalent fractions. Students might notice that a red rod is half of a purple rod, and two white rods equal one red rod.
Pizza fraction activities are great for addition and subtraction problems. Pupils can see how many slices are left when someone eats 5/12 of a pizza and another person eats 4/12.
Number line activities help children see fractions as numbers. Your Year 3 class can practise counting up and down in tenths along a big number line on the floor.
Fraction games make practice more fun and build confidence. LearningMole offers curriculum-aligned video resources with visual examples for pupils aged 4 to 11.
BBC Bitesize has free fractions resources covering the KS2 maths curriculum for Years 3, 4, 5, and 6. The materials include interactive activities and printable content.
Oak National Academy provides full lesson packages for KS2 maths fractions with slides, worksheets, and quizzes. You can download these and adapt them for your class.
Cazoom Maths has KS2 fractions worksheets on equivalent fractions, comparing and ordering fractions, and adding and subtracting fractions. Their collection matches National Curriculum requirements from Year 3 to Year 6.
Multiplying fractions comes up in upper KS2, especially in Years 5 and 6. Visual models help pupils see what happens when you multiply a fraction by another fraction or a whole number.
Bar models work well for showing multiplication of fractions. When pupils see 1/2 of 1/4 as a bar split into quarters with half of one quarter shaded, the idea makes more sense.
The NCETM has self-audit questions for teachers to check their confidence in teaching fractions across KS1 and KS2. This helps you spot which multiplication concepts you might want to strengthen.
Cazoom Maths worksheets include answer sheets for all their fraction activities. This saves time and helps pupils check their own work.
SATs-style fraction arithmetic questions come with fully worked solutions. You can use these at the end of a unit to test understanding and help pupils prepare for exams.
TES has fraction arithmetic resources with questions from actual SATs papers plus extra questions matched to the current curriculum. The answers let you quickly see which pupils need more support.
Year 5 pupils need to multiply proper fractions and mixed numbers by whole numbers. Fraction walls or fraction bars help them see these more complex operations.
Double-sided counters make it easier to show improper fractions and mixed numbers. Pupils can use different colours to separate whole parts from fractional parts.
Twinkl provides maths teaching packs designed for Year 5 objectives. These packs include visual aids that support the abstract ideas pupils face.
Digital tools can add something extra to hands-on resources. Interactive fraction games let pupils practise comparing fractions with different denominators at their own pace.
Year 7 falls within KS3, not KS2. The curriculum at this level expects pupils to tackle more complex fraction operations and problem-solving.
Most KS2 resources stop at Year 6, since that’s the last year of primary school in England. Oak National Academy organises their resources by key stage, and they keep KS3 content separate.
Secondary maths departments usually create their own schemes of work for Year 7. You could try using bridging resources that quickly recap Year 6 fractions, then move into the tougher concepts your Year 7s will see.
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