This activity builds on the Equivalent Fractions activity I posted today, and can be used with 3rd to 6th graders. I noticed that the beams of each size could represent halves, thirds, fourths, etc., using the number of holes (excluding center hole).
Comparing Fractions (Rational Numbers for 6th Graders): See photos below of setup, with 2 each of the first 8 sizes of beams pinned to the board with red pins and labeled with denominations. This creates a board that has 2 groups of fraction denominations. One of these boards can be made with each GO kit. It can be played as a game with 2 - 4 students. The 1st student uses green pins and yellow standoffs to pick a fraction or mixed number on each side of the board. If a fraction is picked in the location of a red pin, it can be changed out for a green pin. Other student(s) use common denominators to assign > < or =, either together or separately, to get the point. If they are not correct, the 1st student gets the point. A timer could be used.
Ordering Fractions (or Rational Numbers): The same as Comparing Fractions above, except 3 or 4 fractions are chosen by the 1st student. One or both sides of the board are used for 2 different fractions, so mixed numbers do not work well. The fractions are placed in order from least to greatest by the other student(s).
