Third Grade · Math · week 20

Fractions on the number line

Place unit and non-unit fractions on a number line between 0 and 1.

A number line shows that fractions are NUMBERS with a place, just like whole numbers. To place fourths, split the space from 0 to 1 into 4 equal jumps. Each jump is 1/4.

Count the jumps to name the point: after 3 jumps of 1/4 you are at 3/4. The denominator tells how many jumps fill the whole; the numerator tells how many jumps you took.

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • Draw big number lines and have them make the equal jumps with a finger first.
  • Connect back to the whole: the denominator = jumps to reach 1.
  • Watch spacing — the jumps must be equal or the placement lies.
  • Compare a fraction line to a ruler to reinforce "fractions are numbers."
Talk about it:
  • How do you split a line into fourths?
  • What does the numerator count on the line?
  • How many 1/5 jumps make a whole?

Mastery looks like: They partition a 0–1 line into equal parts and place fractions correctly.

Common stumbles: Unequal jumps; counting marks instead of jumps; starting the count at the wrong place.

See it visually

Interactive, spoken-aloud tools that show this idea in motion.

FractionsSlice bars and circles into equal parts and compare them.try →Number LineCount, add, subtract, and skip-count with animated hops and a friendly voice.try →
Homework for this lessonType it, write it with a stylus, or print it for pencil & paper.open →
Records attendance + 15 min of Math for this learner.
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