Fraction Bars & Fraction Wall
Interactive fraction wall from halves to twelfths: shade pieces, find equivalent fractions with a compare line, and compare two fractions.
Whole: 0shaded
halves: 0/2shaded
thirds: 0/3shaded
fourths: 0/4shaded
fifths: 0/5shaded
sixths: 0/6shaded
eighths: 0/8shaded
tenths: 0/10shaded
twelfths: 0/12shaded
Rows on the wall
Decimals and percents that never end (like 1/3) are rounded and marked with ≈. Labels hide on pieces too narrow to read.
Teach Equivalent Fractions with a Virtual Fraction Wall
A fraction wall stacks one whole bar above bars cut into halves, thirds, fourths and so on, all the same length — so students can see that 2/4 takes up exactly as much room as 1/2. Tap pieces to shade them, slide the compare line to find every fraction that lines up at the same spot, and switch labels between fractions, decimals and percents. Compare mode puts any two fractions, even improper ones, on the same scale. It runs free in your browser on Chromebooks, iPads and interactive whiteboards.
Use the fraction wall in 3 steps
Choose your rows. Tap the 1–12 chips to show the rows you are teaching, or pick a preset: Halves family (2, 4, 8), Thirds family (3, 6, 12), Fifths & tenths, or All 1–12. The whole bar sits on top.
Shade and line up pieces. Tap any piece to shade it; each row shows how much is shaded, with an option for simplest form. Drag the compare line (or use the arrow keys) and every row with a piece edge there lights up, listing the equivalent fractions.
Compare two fractions. Switch to Compare two, set each numerator and denominator, and both fractions appear as bars on a shared scale. The tool shows <, > or = and renames both fractions with a common denominator to explain why.
Ways to use it in your classroom
Discover equivalent fractions
Choose the Halves family preset and turn on the compare line. Slide it to the middle and the rows for halves, fourths and eighths light up, listing 1/2, 2/4 and 4/8. Ask students what they notice about the numerators and denominators before you name the pattern.
Shade, then simplify
Choose the Thirds family preset and ask a student to shade 4 of the twelfths, then turn on simplest form: the row shows that 4/12 is the same amount as 1/3. Move the compare line to that spot to prove it. This works well as a third- or fourth-grade small-group routine before students simplify on paper.
Predict, then compare two fractions
In Classroom Presentation Mode, switch to Compare two and set 3/4 and 2/3. Students vote on <, > or = before you press Show answer. The bars share one scale, and the explanation renames both with the common denominator 12: 9/12 > 8/12. Try 3/8 and 3/4 next to talk about same numerators.
Connect fractions, decimals, percents
Pick the Fifths & tenths preset and switch piece labels from Fraction to Decimal to Percent. Students see 1/5 relabeled as 0.2 and then 20%, and one tenth as 0.1 and 10%. Fifth and sixth graders can shade 2/5 and find the matching number of tenths with the compare line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do some decimal labels have a ≈ sign?
Fractions like 1/3 or 1/12 have decimals that never end, so the label rounds them to hundredths (≈0.33) and marks them with ≈. Labels such as 0.25 or 12.5% are exact. Pieces too narrow to read simply hide their label.
Can I compare improper fractions?
Yes. In Compare two, numerators go up to twice the denominator, so you can compare fractions up to 2 wholes, like 5/4 and 3/2. When either fraction is more than one whole, both bars stretch to a 2-whole scale.
Can I hide the answer while students predict?
Yes. Classroom Presentation Mode hides the comparison symbol and the explanation until you press Show answer or the Space bar, and it hides them again each time you change a fraction. Your rows, shading and labels are saved in this browser.
How do I teach equivalent fractions with a fraction wall?
Show the whole bar with two or three related rows, such as halves, fourths and eighths. Ask students to find pieces whose edges line up, then drag the compare line to check: every row with an edge at that spot lights up and lists its fraction. Students see that 1/2, 2/4 and 4/8 cover the same length, so they name the same amount.
Which rows should I show for third or fourth grade?
Third-grade fraction work in many US classrooms uses halves, thirds, fourths, sixths and eighths, so tap those chips or start with the Halves family and Thirds family presets. Fourth grade often adds fifths, tenths and twelfths. You can show any rows from 1 to 12, and your choice is saved in this browser for next time.
Can I label the pieces as decimals or percents?
Yes. Under Piece labels, choose Fraction, Decimal, Percent or None. Decimal and percent labels help students connect 1/4 with 0.25 and 25%. Choose None when you want students to name each piece themselves. Labels are hidden on pieces that are too narrow to read, such as twelfths on a phone screen.