Elijah's Fraction Galaxy
Learn fractions in space — with planets, pizzas, and rockets!
Three lessons · Animated step-by-step
Lesson 1
What Is a Fraction?
A fraction is a piece of something whole. The number on top says how many pieces you have. The number on bottom says how many pieces the whole was cut into.
What fraction of this planet is colored?
Step 1 — Here's one whole planet.
1 whole
Step 2 — Now we cut it into 4 equal pieces.
4 pieces
Step 3 — We color in 3 of the 4 pieces.
3 colored, 1 not
Step 4 — Write it as a fraction!
Top number = pieces colored = 3
Bottom number = total pieces = 4
Bottom number = total pieces = 4
34
Step 5 — The answer!
34
=
"three-fourths"
3/4 of the planet ✓
★ ☆ ★
Remember: A fraction has TWO numbers stacked on each other. The top number tells how many pieces you have. The bottom number tells how many pieces total. So 34 means "3 out of 4."
Lesson 2
Halves, Thirds, and Fourths
When you cut a planet (or pizza!) into more pieces, each piece gets smaller. Let's see how halves, thirds, and fourths look!
How small are the pieces?
Step 1 — Start with one whole planet.
1 whole
Step 2 — Cut it in HALF. Each piece is 12.
12
12
2 halves make 1 whole!
Step 3 — Cut it in THIRDS. Each piece is 13.
13
13
13
3 thirds make 1 whole!
Step 4 — Cut it in FOURTHS. Each piece is 14.
14
14
14
14
4 fourths make 1 whole!
Step 5 — More pieces means each piece is smaller.
12 (BIG)
13
14 (small)
Bigger bottom number = SMALLER piece!
★ ☆ ★
Remember: The bottom number tells you how many pieces. More pieces = smaller pieces.
So 12 is a BIG piece, but 18 is a tiny piece.
So 12 is a BIG piece, but 18 is a tiny piece.
Lesson 3
Comparing Fractions
Two astronauts each get a piece of pizza. Whoever has the bigger piece gets more food. Let's figure out who gets more!
Which is bigger: 12 or 14?
Step 1 — Astronaut A has 12 of a pizza.
Astronaut A: 12
Step 2 — Astronaut B has 14 of a pizza.
Astronaut B: 14
Step 3 — Put them side by side. Who has more pizza?
A: 12
B: 14
Step 4 — When the top is the same (both 1), look at the bottom number!
12 = pizza cut into 2 pieces (BIG)
14 = pizza cut into 4 pieces (small)
14 = pizza cut into 4 pieces (small)
Smaller bottom = BIGGER piece!
Step 5 — Astronaut A gets MORE pizza!
12
>
14
A wins! ✓
(">" means "is bigger than")
★ ☆ ★
Remember: When the top numbers are the SAME, the fraction with the smaller bottom is bigger.
Example: 13 is BIGGER than 18 because 3 is smaller than 8.
Example: 13 is BIGGER than 18 because 3 is smaller than 8.