Have students create quilt blocks out of paper. You can have students color paper squares or they can cut out colored squares from construction paper. Students should color or cut squares in halves, fourths, eighths and sixteenths because these are basic fractions everyone should be familiar with before advancing to the next level of fractions. As students become more advanced, add thirds, sixths and twelfths later in the activity.
This activity is a little more advanced. Start with a large blank square and have students divide the square in half using a specific color. Encourage students not to just divide the square down the middle. Inform your students that half of the square does not have to be one side of a straight line. Once every student divides their square in half, collect all squares and have students view each square. The students can then glue each of their squares on one large poster board. Repeat this process as many times as you want and have students practice with thirds, fourths, sixths, eighths, twelfths, etc..
After your students master the less challenging quilt fraction activities, cut out centimeter squares of different colors so students can form their own quilt blocks of smaller squares. A group of students, for instance, can use their squares to create a quilt that illustrates relationships of halves and thirds.
You will need construction or large poster board and glue sticks to mount the finished fraction designs that students create. Use rulers if you want students to measure out their own quilt blocks or squares. Or you can use centimeter graph paper or grid paper so students can draw their own blocks. Use colored pencils, crayons or markers for drawing.