Free Montessori fraction circles worksheets

In a Montessori classroom fractions begin with the metal insets: ten red circles set in green frames, one whole and then circles cut into 2, 3, 4 and so on up to 10 equal pieces. A child lifts the pieces out by their knobs, feels that four fourths fill the same frame as two halves, and only later writes the symbols. These eight worksheets are the paper version of that work. Two sheets are the circles themselves, in red and in outline, to cut out and keep in envelopes; one is the recording sheet for naming each fraction family; five are exercises that use the circles to label, color, match equivalent fractions, add and compare, each with an answer key. Print the circles on card and the rest on paper.

What's in this set

1. Printable fraction circles 1 to 1/10 in color. Ten red circles, whole to tenths, every piece labelled, on two pages sized to cut out.
2. Fraction circles to color and cut. The same ten circles as outlines, to color one family at a time.
3. Label the fraction. Twelve circles with some pieces red: write the fraction that is red. Answer key on page 2.
4. Color the fraction. Twelve divided circles with a fraction under each: color that many pieces. Answer key.
5. Equivalent fraction circles. Eight pairs such as 1/2 and 2/4 with the same red amount; fill in the missing number. Answer key.
6. Fraction families recording sheet. Whole to tenths: family name, pieces in a whole, name of one piece, the written fraction. First two rows done. Answer key.
7. Add fractions with circles. Eight same-denominator additions shown as red pieces; color the answer circle and write the sum. Answer key.
8. Which fraction is bigger? Eight pairs side by side; circle the bigger one by looking at the red parts. Answer key.

Fractions come late in the Montessori math sequence, after the golden beads and the addition strip board; the Montessori math worksheets page shows the whole order.

Frequently asked questions

What age are Montessori fraction circles for?

Children meet the fraction insets around age 5 to 6 as sensorial work (naming and handling pieces) and use them for writing, equivalence and operations in grades 1 to 3. The circles and recording sheet suit the younger end; equivalent, add and compare suit grades 2 and 3.

Why circles rather than bars or squares?

A circle makes the whole obvious: any gap shows at once, and every piece of a family looks the same. Montessori uses circles first for that reason and moves to bars and number lines later. Our equivalent fractions worksheets use bars and pies together for the next step.

Do these worksheets have answer keys?

Six of the eight do: label, color, equivalent, recording sheet, add and compare each have the answers on page 2. The two printable circle sheets are materials with nothing to mark.

Do I need the metal insets?

No. The cut-out card circles do the same job for these exercises. If you have the insets, use the worksheets as the recording step after the child has worked with the material.

What comes next?

Fractions with different denominators using the circles to find equivalents, then mixed numbers and improper fractions. The mixed numbers worksheets pick up from there.

More Montessori math

The materials before fractions: bead stair, golden beads, hundred board, addition strip board and stamp game, all listed in order on the Montessori math worksheets page. For the fraction skills without the material, see the equivalent fractions worksheets and the mixed numbers worksheets.