Inspirations & Ideas, Grade 8 Support
Fraction Feud A Card Game for Fraction Reasoning
Fraction Feud was developed to engage students with fractions in ways they may not have experienced before. The fraction of area shaded on each card is that card's value — students compare, compute, and compete their way to fluency.
Why it works
Great for reasoning, not just rules
Fraction Feud cards are full of chances to reason about fractions, building deep fraction sense instead of relying on procedures.
“The kids absolutely loved Fraction Feud War, and they were really sad the class ended.”
CPM teacher
“Students have such a negative view of fractions. Trying to use them in a game is a great way to focus their thinking.”
CPM teacher
“It was good practice for them to find what fractions the cards represent and then compare them.”
CPM teacher
How to play
Five ways to play Fraction Feud
All games use the same 52-card deck. Mix and match through the year to keep fraction reasoning fresh.
Fraction Feud War
2 players
- Set upDeal all cards evenly. Each player flips their top card, and the greater fraction wins both cards.
- How to playIf the cards are equivalent, it’s war: each player places one card face down, then one face up. The greatest fraction wins all six cards.
- WinningThe player who collects the full deck wins.
Slap <⅜
2+ players
- Set upPlayers take turns placing cards face up in a center pile.
- How to playWhen the top card shows a fraction less than ⅜, the first player to slap it and correctly name the fraction wins the pile.
- WinningSlap a card greater than or equal to ⅜, or misname the fraction, and you give the pile to a correct challenger.
Go Fish Fractions
2–5 players
- Set upDeal 7 cards each (2–3 players) or 5 each (4–5 players).
- How to playAsk for a specific fraction to make equivalent pairs. If the other player doesn’t have it, “Go Fish” in the center pile. Pairs are removed from play.
- WinningThe player with the most pairs wins.
Fraction Concentration
2–3 players
- Set upLay all cards face down in rows. Half the deck works for two players.
- How to playTake turns flipping two cards looking for a match (same image, same color). To claim the pair, correctly name the fraction, or another player can steal it.
- WinningMost pairs wins.
Last Fraction Standing
4+ players
- Set upDeal all cards to the class. Great as a full-class activity.
- How to playPlayers find a partner and play one round of Fraction Feud War. The loser surrenders their cards and sits down; winners shuffle and find a new partner.
- WinningPlay continues until one player holds the entire deck.
Practice activities
Beyond the games
Three quick activities that use the cards for structured practice: great for warm-ups, centers or early finishers.
WODB
Which one doesn’t belong?
Turn four different cards face up. Choose the card that doesn’t belong and justify why. Many answers can be right; the reasoning is the point.
Compute
Operations
Turn two cards face up. Find the value of each, then perform the operations shown on the cards with those fractions. Flexible for any skill level.
Order
Fraction sort
Separate one operation (+, −, ×, or ÷) from the deck and arrange its 13 cards from least to greatest value. A visual way to see how operations affect fraction size.