Comparing fractions to decimals is a vital skill that requires that the student understands that she needs to divide the numerator by the denominator. When she has divided the fraction, she has the decimal fraction. Play the online game "Death by Fraction," which is found at MrNussbaum.com. The fraction is displayed at the bottom of the screen and you have to move Fraction Man by using arrows. When you have found the right decimal, you fire devastating calculators toward the falling decimals. Fractions such as 1/3 and 2/4 are used and there are different levels.
Decimal fractions such as tenths and hundredths are also important to learn to recognize. Fractions, decimals and percentages are all different ways of representing parts. Play the Comparing Fractions and Decimals Game at BBC. You can select what you what to compare, for example, decimals and fractions. Turn over counters with the matching pairs such as 1/10 and 0.1. There are three different levels of the game, and at the highest level you match fractions such as 17/20 and 7/40 with their decimals. Play Matchgeneric at Oswego and match a fraction with a decimal by clicking on the matching pair. The fractions that are converted are tenths, such as 1/10 and 4/10, making it suitable to play before introducing percentage.
Games that are made by students are a great way to motivate your students to learn. Play Fractotron and practice to quickly decide whether a fraction is more, less or equal to a half. This helps students to convert fractions into the smallest fraction. Use your mouse to click on the right answer. A wide range of different fractions is used in the game, for example, 1/7 and 24/48. If you pick the wrong answer, a sign with "Wrong Answer" comes up on the screen and you can hear a crowd booing. A new fraction appears and if you pick the right answer, you can hear encouraging cheering and the sign "Well Done" appears.
Play a game where the students have to find as many ways as possible to write down a decimal. Select a number of decimals, such as, 0.5 and 0.2. Students can use the calculator to find new fractions. Use the fractions that the students have found to make a card game. Write down the fractions on cards. Let students pick a card and decide which decimal the fraction is equivalent to from the decimals that you previously used to make up the fractions.