Are you struggling with how to teach division? Do you have a learner who is just not getting it? I understand; we have all been there! Since your child has a basic understanding of multiplication and most of their time tables memorized, these strategies are an easy and fun way to introduce division.
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Before you can begin to practice division, your students first need to understand the concept. I suggest teaching them the idea of division by connecting the concept of sharing. You can help them by explaining how items can be equally shared between groups and give them examples. You may want to show them six cookies and how they can be transferred or given to three children, so they each have two. By creating practice examples, you are helping your class with a visual reference that can help them grasp the concept of division.
Here are five strategies I use to teach division to my class:
Strategy 1: Read a picture book
While there are tons of ways to make division fun, one of the best ways is to engage kids with math storybooks. Kids are never too old for storytime! Using books to introduce or teach division can help ease kids’ fears and show them math in real-life situations.
I love the book called Divide and Ride by Stuart Murphy, which takes kids on a daredevil roller coaster with 11 friends. They must divide into 2-to-a-seat roller coaster and 4-to-a-cup teacups ride. Through the story, they learn about making new friends and practicing division skills through an exciting storybook. This nonfiction picture book is an excellent choice to learn to read and divide! Here are other storybooks that teach division and multiplication.
Strategy 2: Sort counters into an egg carton
The use of manipulatives is a beautiful way to bring a problematic math concept such as division to life. A straightforward strategy for teaching the concept of division is using an egg carton. Kids can divide more extensive groups of objects into small groups by sorting them into an egg carton’s different compartments. I have used jellybeans, Cheerios, M&M’s, and counters to teach this concept. These objectives provide the tactile and visual model that can deepen a child’s understanding of division.
Strategy 3: Flocabulary
Watch these fantastic Flocabulary videos to learn how to divide. Flocabulary songs guide students through new concepts and learn about division.
Your class can explore the Flocabulary website on their own, or it can be best if used in conjunction with a whole class lesson. After the Flocabulary video, we discuss the song, and I provide further explanation of the math topic. Flocabulary has a ton of songs that can guide students through division and multiplication.
Strategy 4: Use Ribbon and beads and to divide into an equal group
Another easy strategy to teach division is using ribbons and beads. You can give your students a certain number of beads or ribbons, and they can divide them into different groups. For example, give them 12 beads or ribbons and tell them to separate the ribbon into three groups. Using beads or ribbon is a beautiful strategy to get tactile learners dividing.
Strategy 5: Use Flipbooks to model
Flipbooks are an interactive and hands-on way to learn. Each page is a fun surprise. You can use them for vocabulary words, literature units, book reports, reading logs, study guides, and even math. This math flipbook can help your students learn and apply division in a fun and engaging lesson. It is a printable file for supporting your students in learning all about multiplication.
What’s included in the math division flipbook?
✏️ What is Division?
✏️ Division as Arrays
✏️ Division as Equal Groups
✏️ Division as Repeated Subtraction
✏️ Division as the Opposite of Multiplication
Along with walking students through each division model, there are help videos to support you with printing and assembling a double-sided flipbook! This math flipbook will be an excellent reference for students as they learn this crucial skill!
Teaching division can be a difficult concept for children to grasp. Help your students with division using these strategies to ensure they succeed in math!