As a teacher, I know all to well how teaching fractions can be a challenge! What if I told you there’s a way to make it interactive, engaging, and fun? Even if you have a class of all boys who are "too cool for school" or a group of kids that thinks everything you do is lame. That’s exactly what happened in my classroom with this Mixed Fractions Station Activity.
The Activity: Game Controllers & Fractions? Yes, Please!
I designed this activity to help students master converting mixed fractions to improper fractions while keeping them active and engaged. The best part? It involves game controllers—and we all know how much kids love video games!
Here’s how it works:
Each station is differentiated based on learner skill set.
Match It!
Students receive game controller cutouts labeled with mixed and improper fractions. Their job is to find the correct match. I also provided each student with dry erase boards and markers so that they can show their work.
Record It!
This station is pretty similar to the match it station; however, this staion adds in a writing component. Students in this station will only get either the mixed fraction game controllers or the improper fraction game controllers. They solve to find the answer.
I am huge on showing work, so I also gave this group dry erase boards and markers.
Create & Solve!
To take learning a step further, students create their own mixed fractions, convert them, and solve them. They even check answers with a partner!
I set this up as a small-group station activity, but it could easily be done as a whole-class challenge or even as a fun math center rotation.
On Friday, I turned this into a whole class game! I spread the game controllers out on a table, and students moved around the room, actively matching, solving, and recording their answers.
To keep things exciting, I turned it into a race—who could match all their controllers the fastest? But of course, accuracy was key!
The great thing about this activity was it felt like a game rather than a math lesson.
They enjoyed the hands-on aspect of physically matching the fractions.
The challenge of creating their own fractions made them feel like real mathematicians.
Everyone got involved—from my high-flyers to my struggling learners, everyone had a role to play.
Teacher Prep Time: Quick & Easy!
I won’t lie—prep time was minimal! ? I printed and cut out the game controllers ahead of time, and that was it. You can even laminate them for durability and reuse them year after year!
If you’re looking for a low-prep, high-engagement fraction activity, this is it! Your students will have a blast matching, converting, and creating their own mixed fractions. Grab this activity today and make fractions fun for your students!
Get the Mixed Fractions Game on Teachers Pay Teachers!
Let me know if you try it—I’d love to hear how it works in your classroom! ?✨
