Fractions of shapes worksheets
30 questions: write the fraction shaded in circles, bars and grids, shade a fraction yourself, and name the part that is not shaded.
Download the free fractions of shapes worksheet (PDF)
Fractions of shapes worksheet
What’s on the worksheet
- 30 questions on fractions of shapes, sized for US Letter paper
- 2 pages of questions plus an answer key on the last page
- Written for grades 1–3, matching Common Core 1.G.A.3, 2.G.A.3, 3.NF.A.1
- Name and date lines at the top, and room to show the work
Sample questions from this worksheet
- What fraction is shaded? (a circle with 4 of 6 equal parts shaded)
- What fraction is shaded? (a bar with 4 of 8 equal parts shaded)
- What fraction is shaded? (a grid with 4 of 12 equal parts shaded)
- Shade 1/6 of the shape.
- Shade 1/3 of the shape.
- Shade 5/10 of the shape.
Preview the worksheet and answer key
Make a new fractions of shapes worksheet
Need another page for extra practice, a retake or a second group in class? The free Mathify Kids test maker builds a fresh fractions of shapes worksheet with different numbers every time. Choose how many questions, print it with its own answer key, or let your child take it on screen and see the score straight away.
Fractions of shapes: a worked example (3 of 4 parts shaded)
- Count all the equal parts: 4. That is the bottom number.
- Count the shaded parts: 3. That is the top number.
- So 3/4 of the shape is shaded, and 1/4 is not.
How to use it at home and in class
At home
Before the sheet, fold a paper square into halves, then quarters, and colour some parts. Children who have made fractions with their hands read the pictures much faster. For the shading questions, any parts can be shaded as long as the count is right, so 2/4 can be the top two squares or the left two. Talk about that: it is the number of parts that matters, not which ones. Ten problems a day works better than a whole sheet at once. Mark them together with the answer key, then ask your child to explain one they got wrong: finding the mistake themselves is where the learning happens.
In class
Use the first row as a warm-up, a full page for independent practice, or five questions as an exit ticket. For a retake or a second group, make a new version with the test maker so every child gets different numbers.
Mistakes to watch for
- Writing the shaded parts over the unshaded parts (3/1 instead of 3/4).
- Naming parts that are not equal, so a shape cut into 3 different-sized pieces is not thirds.
What to practice before and after fractions of shapes
- Before: multiplying fractions. If this sheet is a struggle, go back a step.
- After: fractions on a number line, once this one is mostly right.
- Learn it first: the fractions of shapes lesson and the fractions chart.
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Questions parents ask
What grade learns fractions of shapes?
Grades 1 and 2 split shapes into halves, thirds and fourths, and grade 3 names any fraction of a shape, like 5/8.
What grade is this fractions of shapes worksheet for?
It is written for grades 1–3 and matches Common Core standards 1.G.A.3, 2.G.A.3, 3.NF.A.1.
Can I get a different version of this fractions of shapes worksheet?
Yes. Use the free Mathify Kids test maker to make a new fractions of shapes worksheet with different numbers every time, with its own answer key.