Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Easter Egg Fractions: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 4
- ForYear 4
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Easter Egg Fractions is a free printable maths worksheet for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9). Children find a fraction of a box of eggs. They work with unit fractions, where the top number is 1, and with fractions that have a bigger top number. It takes about 20 minutes, needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown up the answers, help ideas and a stretch task.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children read short problems about boxes of Easter eggs. Each problem says how many eggs are in the box and what fraction of them have a feature, such as a wrapper colour, a type of chocolate or a pattern. Children work out how many eggs that is. Some problems use fractions with 1 on top. Others use fractions with a bigger top number. There is space to write each answer.
- A box has 12 eggs. 1/4 are dark chocolate. How many?
- A box has 20 eggs. 1/5 have gold wrappers. How many?
- A box has 18 eggs. 1/3 have blue wrappers. How many?
- A box has 24 eggs. 3/4 are milk chocolate. How many?
- A box has 10 eggs. 1/2 are white chocolate. How many?
- A box has 16 eggs. 1/8 have spots. How many?
- A box has 30 eggs. 2/3 have stripes. How many?
- A box has 20 eggs. 3/10 have stars. How many?
A worked example
A box has 27 eggs. 7/9 have pink wrappers. How many?
This is a different question from the ones on the sheet. It shows two ways to work.
Method 1: divide, then multiply- The bottom number is 9, so split the 27 eggs into 9 equal groups.
- 27 ÷ 9 = 3. One ninth of the box is 3 eggs.
- The top number is 7, so we want 7 of those groups.
- 7 × 3 = 21.
- Draw 27 eggs as small ovals.
- Circle them in 9 equal groups. Each group has 3 eggs.
- Colour 7 of the groups.
- Count the coloured eggs by threes: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21.
Number facts that help
Times tables and division facts
The bottom numbers of the fractions on the sheet match the 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 10 times tables. Say a few of the matching division facts aloud before starting, so they come quickly.
Read the fraction in two parts
The bottom number tells you how many equal groups to make. The top number tells you how many of those groups to count.
Find one group first
Divide the whole box by the bottom number to find what one group is worth. Then multiply if the top number is bigger than 1.
Check it makes sense
The answer should be fewer eggs than the whole box. Ask whether the answer is a sensible size for the fraction.
Why use Easter eggs for fractions?
Easter is celebrated in spring, and chocolate eggs are a popular treat for families in the UK. For many Christians, the egg is also a symbol of new life. Boxes of eggs arrive in lots of sizes, and sharing them out is something children already think about, so the topic feels familiar and fun.
Finding a fraction of an amount means splitting a collection into equal groups. A box of eggs is easy to picture, so each number has a meaning. Children see that a fraction is not only a shape cut into pieces. It also tells us how many items to take from a set. That idea is used again in later maths.
Skills and curriculum link
- Fractions of amounts
- Unit fractions
- Non unit fractions
- Division
- Multiplication
- Reasoning
Ideas that help with fractions of amounts
- Equal groupsA fraction of an amount only works when the groups are equal. Each group must hold the same number of items.
- Bottom numberThe bottom number says how many equal groups the whole is split into. More groups means smaller groups.
- Top numberThe top number says how many of the groups we count. If it is 1, one group is the answer.
- Division and multiplicationDivision finds the size of one group. Multiplication then finds the size of several groups. The two go together.
Key words
- FractionA part of a whole, or a part of a group, shown with one number over another.
- NumeratorThe top number of a fraction. It tells you how many parts you take.
- DenominatorThe bottom number of a fraction. It tells you how many equal parts the whole is split into.
- Unit fractionA fraction with 1 on top, such as 1/4.
- Non unit fractionA fraction with a top number bigger than 1, such as 3/4.
- Equal groupsGroups that all have the same number of items in them.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Read the first problem aloud. Ask your child to say what the bottom number and the top number each mean.
- Let them choose how to work. They can use counters, draw the eggs in rows, or divide and multiply on paper.
- Check together using page 2. Ask, "How did you work that out?" The thinking matters as much as the answer.
- Come back another day and try again. Repeating a familiar sheet builds confidence. It should take about 20 minutes.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Draw the eggs in rows, then circle equal groups. Count how many eggs are in one group. For a harder fraction, find one group first and then count how many groups you need. Counters or buttons also work well.
To stretch confident children
Write your own egg box problem using a fraction with a top number bigger than 1. Choose the box size carefully so the groups come out equal. Swap with a friend and solve each other's. Then check with a drawing.
Make it a game
Hide 12 paper eggs around a room while players are out. Two players hunt, then count what each found. Each player says their eggs as a fraction of 12. Do the two fractions fit together to make the whole box?
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child divides by the top number instead of the bottom number.
Try thisSay the fraction aloud: "quarters means four groups." Draw that many groups, then count how many are needed.
Watch forA child finds one group but stops, even though the top number is bigger than 1.
Try thisAsk how many groups the fraction asks for. Colour those groups and count them all.
Watch forA child gets groups of different sizes when drawing, so the answer is wrong.
Try thisDraw the eggs in neat rows first. Share them one at a time into each group so all groups match.
Talk about it
- What does the bottom number of a fraction tell you?
- What does the top number tell you?
- Is 3/4 of a box more or less than the whole box?
- Why must the groups be equal?
- How would you find 1/2 of a box? How is that different from finding 1/4?
- Can you think of a time at home when you share something into equal groups?
Take it off the page
Paper egg sort
Draw and cut out paper eggs, or ask an adult to cut them. Colour them in two or three different ways. Sort them into groups and say what fraction of the whole set each group is.
Egg box counters
Use an empty cardboard egg box with 12 spaces and some counters. Fill a fraction of the spaces, such as 1/3 or 1/4, then ask someone to say the fraction.
Design a box
Draw a box of eggs and decorate them. Colour 1/2 red, 1/4 blue and the rest yellow. Write each fraction under the colour.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first problem, then let them lead. Ask them to say what each number in the fraction means. If they get stuck, suggest drawing the eggs in rows and circling equal groups.
Teachers
Use it as a starter or plenary after teaching fractions of amounts, as an early finisher task or as homework. The mix of unit and non unit fractions suits mixed ability groups. Page 2 gives support, stretch and answers.
Home educators
Print it for one child or reuse it for brothers and sisters. It pairs well with a hands on session using counters or paper eggs. Come back to it a few weeks later as quick revision.
Where this fits in
Before this sheet, children share objects into equal groups and find simple fractions such as halves, quarters and thirds. They also learn times tables and the division facts that go with them. These give the quick recall needed here.
After this sheet, children meet more fractions of amounts with bigger numbers, equivalent fractions and fractions greater than one whole. Later still, they connect fractions to decimals and percentages. Finding a fraction of an amount is a skill they will use again and again.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Easter Egg Fractions for?
It is written for Year 4 (ages 8 to 9), in Key Stage 2. It supports the fractions strand of the maths curriculum through short, focused practice. Children who are a little younger or older can use it with the help and stretch ideas on page 2.
- What will children practise?
Children find unit and non unit fractions of a quantity. To do this they use division to find the size of one group and multiplication to find several groups. They also practise reading a fraction carefully and checking an answer.
- How long does it take?
It takes about 20 minutes for one child. Some children will finish sooner and some will want longer. You can split it over two sittings, or use the stretch idea on page 2 if they finish early.
- What if it feels too hard?
Try drawing the eggs in rows, circling equal groups and counting one group. Counters or buttons can help too. Do the first few problems together, then let your child try the rest alone. Come back to the sheet another day.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or revision. Black and white printing works well on plain A4 paper, so you do not need colour ink.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 has the answers and support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
- Is it a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. Children read, think and write by hand, and talking about their methods is part of the fun.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.