Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Dino Dig Fraction Fossils: Free Printable Quiz for Year 5
- ForYear 5
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Dino Dig Fraction Fossils is a free printable quiz for Year 5 (ages 9 to 10) in Key Stage 2. Children dig up the true fraction facts and spot the fakes. It practises equivalent fractions, including tenths and hundredths, and needs only a pencil.
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. It is two A4 pages. Page 1 is for the child. Page 2 is for the grown-up and has notes, help and a stretch idea. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children become fossil hunters. Each fraction fact is either true or a fake, and their job is to dig out the true ones. To decide, they check whether the top and bottom numbers have been multiplied or divided by the same number. The sheet covers equivalent fractions, including tenths and hundredths. It asks children to reason, not only recall, so talking about each choice is a big part of the fun.
Worked example: is this fraction fact true?
Is 5/8 equal to 15/24?
This example uses its own fractions. It shows two ways to test a fraction fact, and you can use either one with your child.
Method 1: scale up- Look at the bottom numbers first. Ask what 8 was multiplied by to make 24.
- 8 × 3 = 24, so the bottom was multiplied by 3.
- Now check the top. 5 × 3 = 15, which matches.
- Top and bottom were multiplied by the same number, so the fact is true.
- Start with the bigger fraction, 15/24.
- Find a number that divides into both 15 and 24. Try 3.
- 15 ÷ 3 = 5 and 24 ÷ 3 = 8, so 15/24 becomes 5/8.
- The fraction is the same, so the fact is true.
What the quiz builds
Same number top and bottom
Children learn that an equivalent fraction comes from multiplying or dividing both parts by the same number. Changing only one part changes the value.
Seeing the link
They look for the number that links one bottom number to another, then check the top number matches.
Tenths and hundredths
They meet fractions with 10 and 100 as the bottom number and see how one links to the other.
Spotting fakes
Finding what is wrong with a fake fraction needs careful reasoning. It is a good way to see if a child really understands.
Why fossils and fractions?
A fossil is the preserved trace of a plant or animal that lived long ago. Many are bones, teeth or shells turned to stone, but footprints and plant shapes can be fossils too. Scientists who study them are called palaeontologists. They dig carefully, sort what they find and test each idea before they trust it.
That careful testing is a good match for fractions. Children dig out the true facts and set aside the fakes, just as a scientist checks a find. A dig theme gives a reason to look closely at each fraction and explain why it is true or not. England also has a rich fossil history, including the Jurassic Coast in the south west and the fossil hunter Mary Anning of Lyme Regis.
Fossil facts for curious children
- A fossil is the preserved trace of a living thing from long ago.
- Footprints and plant shapes can be fossils, not only bones.
- A scientist who studies fossils is called a palaeontologist.
- Mary Anning found important fossils near Lyme Regis in England.
- The Jurassic Coast in the south of England is famous for its fossils.
Skills and curriculum link
- Equivalent fractions
- Multiplying and dividing
- Tenths and hundredths
- Reasoning
- Spotting fakes
Fraction ideas that help
- Same valueEquivalent fractions name the same amount in different parts. The size of the fraction does not change.
- Both parts togetherWhatever you do to the top, you must do to the bottom. Multiply both or divide both by the same number.
- Multiplying by oneMultiplying top and bottom by the same number is like multiplying by a fraction that equals one. That is why the value stays put.
- HundredthsHundredths come from cutting each tenth into ten equal parts. This helps when linking the two.
Key words
- FractionA part of a whole, written with one number over another.
- NumeratorThe top number. It shows how many parts we have.
- DenominatorThe bottom number. It shows how many equal parts the whole is split into.
- EquivalentHaving the same value. Equivalent fractions look different but show the same amount.
- TenthsA whole split into ten equal parts.
- HundredthsA whole split into one hundred equal parts.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2 for yourself.
- Remind your child that top and bottom must be multiplied or divided by the same number.
- Work through the activity together the first time. Talk about each choice and ask why it is true or fake.
- Check against the notes on page 2. Cover them until everyone has finished.
- Come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Draw each fraction as a bar split into equal parts and compare them. Shade the parts, then line the bars up one under the other. If the shaded amounts match, the fractions are equivalent. Try a few at a time and say your thinking aloud.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to correct each fake into a true fraction. They should say what was wrong first, then change the fraction so it is equivalent. Challenge them to write one more true fraction for each fact they dug up.
Make it a game
Take turns writing a true or fake fraction pair for the other person to judge. Score a point for each correct judgement, and a bonus point if you can explain why a fake is wrong. First to ten points wins.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child adds the same number to the top and bottom, such as turning 2/3 into 5/6 by adding 3 to each.
Try thisExplain that equivalent fractions come from multiplying or dividing, not adding. Draw both fractions as bars and see that they do not match.
Watch forA child changes only the bottom number, or only the top number.
Try thisSay the rule aloud: whatever happens to the top must happen to the bottom. Check each part by writing the multiplier next to both.
Watch forA child divides top and bottom by a number that does not go into both.
Try thisCheck each number first. List the times table facts for the top and the bottom and pick a number that appears in both.
Talk about it
- How can you tell a true fraction from a fake one?
- What do you check first, the top or the bottom?
- Why must you do the same thing to both numbers?
- How could you draw this fraction to prove it?
- Which fake was the trickiest to spot, and why?
- How would you fix that fake so it becomes true?
Take it off the page
Paper fossil bars
Cut paper strips and fold them into equal parts. Shade some parts, then fold again to make an equivalent fraction. Compare the shaded amounts.
Fraction fossil hunt
Write fraction pairs on small paper cards. Hide them around a room. Children find them and sort the cards into true and fake piles.
Clay fossil prints
Press a toy or a shell into clay to make a print. Split a clay tile into equal parts and describe the part you shaded as a fraction.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go, then let them lead. Short bursts work better than long sessions. If they get stuck, ask them to draw the fraction as a bar and talk through what they see.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, supply resource, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Pair it with books about fossils and a walk outdoors. Print it again for brothers and sisters or for revision a few weeks later. Ask your child to explain each choice so you can see their thinking.
Where this fits in fractions
Before this, children meet fractions as parts of a whole and learn about equivalence in simple cases. They also learn how tenths and hundredths work in the number system. This sheet builds on those ideas and asks children to reason about them with more care.
After this, equivalent fractions help children compare and order fractions and add and subtract fractions with related bottom numbers. Later, in Year 6, they use common denominators and simplify fractions with confidence. Being secure with equivalence now makes all of that much easier.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Dino Dig Fraction Fossils for?
It is written for Year 5 (ages 9 to 10) in Key Stage 2. It can also work as revision for older children, or as a stretch task for confident younger ones who already know their times tables.
- What will children practise?
Children practise identifying, naming and writing equivalent fractions of a given fraction, including tenths and hundredths. They also reason about which fraction facts are true and which are fakes, which links to the Year 5 National Curriculum fractions strand.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or a whole class without any cost.
- What if it feels too hard?
Draw each fraction as a bar split into equal parts and compare them. Seeing the shaded amounts side by side helps. Try a few at a time and come back to it another day.
- 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, and page 2 has support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
- Is this a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it works well for quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. Writing by hand also gives children time to think before they answer.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for the grown-up.
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.