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Comparing Fractions: Which Is Bigger?

Third graders learn to compare fractions — discovering that more pieces of the same size means a bigger fraction, and that smaller pieces come from a bigger bottom number.

Grade 3Fractions50 minutes1 class periodGradual ReleaseExplicit teaching4 StandardsCommon Core
Start the Lesson
Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Compare fractions with the same denominator.
  • ✓Compare fractions with the same numerator.
  • ✓Use >, <, =.
  • ✓Explain with pictures.
Essential Question

Would you rather have 1/2 of a candy bar or 1/4? They both have a 1 on top — so how do you know which is more?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Model · Interactive Tool

Which Is Bigger?

Project each item and have students compare the fractions. The tool explains how the pieces and their sizes decide.

🍕 Compare the fractions — which is bigger?Try it
Compare each pair of fractions.
The Lesson · Gradual Release (I Do · We Do · You Do)

50 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Launch — Half or a Quarter?

5 min

1/2 or 1/4 of a candy bar — which would you rather have?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show 1/2 and 1/4.
  • Ask which is more.
  • Set the goal: comparing fractions.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Compare them.
  • Choose one.
  • Predict the rule.
2

I Do — Same Pieces, Same Size

10 min

Teacher models.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Same bottom: more pieces = bigger.
  • Same top: bigger bottom = smaller pieces.
  • Use fraction bars.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Learn same bottom.
  • Learn same top.
  • Use bars.
3

We Do — Compare Together

13 min

Class uses Which Is Bigger?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Compare each pair.
  • Explain why.
  • Write >, <, or =.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Compare pairs.
  • Explain it.
  • Write the symbol.
4

You Do — On Your Own

12 min

Students compare.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Compare fraction pairs.
  • Draw pictures to check.
  • Order fractions.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Compare pairs.
  • Draw to check.
  • Order them.
5

Close — Close

5 min

One comparison.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Give two fractions.
  • Compare them.
  • Hand out the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Compare them.
  • Explain it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.

CCSS
3.NF.3d

Compare two fractions by reasoning about their size.

CCSS
3.NF.3

Explain equivalence of fractions and compare fractions.

CCSS
3.NF.1

Understand a fraction as parts of a whole.

SMP
MP.3

Construct arguments about which fraction is greater.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Use fraction bars/circles.
  • Sentence frame: “___ is bigger because ___.”
  • Compare with pictures.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Compare same-denominator first.
  • Use fraction manipulatives.
  • Draw both fractions.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Compare unlike fractions.
  • Use a number line to compare.
  • Order three fractions.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🍕Fraction bars/circles
  • 💻Which Is Bigger?
  • 🖍️Pencils
  • 📄Fraction strips
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

comparesee which is bigger or smallernumeratorthe top numberdenominatorthe bottom numbergreater thanmore than (>)less thanfewer than (<)equalthe sameequal partspieces of the same sizewholeone complete thing
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
Which is bigger: 1/3 or 1/6?
1/3 (a smaller bottom number means bigger pieces).
QUESTION 2
Which is bigger: 2/5 or 4/5?
4/5 (same size pieces, but more of them).
QUESTION 3
If two fractions have the same top number, how do you know which is bigger?
The one with the smaller bottom number is bigger, because its pieces are larger.

Going deeper? Unlike fractions.

Have students compare fractions with different tops AND bottoms by drawing them or placing them on a number line. A printable comparing-fractions sheet is in the Math library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Comparing FractionsFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Comparing FractionsQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Comparing FractionsPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: compare, denominator, equal, equal parts, greater than, less than, numerator, whole
  1. one complete thing
  2. the top number
  3. see which is bigger or smaller
  4. more than (>)
  5. the same
  6. the bottom number
  7. fewer than (<)
  8. pieces of the same size

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. Which is bigger: 1/3 or 1/6?
  2. Which is bigger: 2/5 or 4/5?
  3. If two fractions have the same top number, how do you know which is bigger?
Answer key — Part A: 1) whole · 2) numerator · 3) compare · 4) greater than · 5) equal · 6) denominator · 7) less than · 8) equal parts
Part B: 1) 1/3 (a smaller bottom number means bigger pieces). 2) 4/5 (same size pieces, but more of them). 3) The one with the smaller bottom number is bigger, because its pieces are larger.