Division is a math skill that students are very eager to learn! They've waited what seems like years to FINALLY get to learn how to divide. Make it even more exciting by providing students hands-on activities using Mini Donut Erasers, Dry Erase Number Lines, Playing Dice, and a Mosaic Manipulative Set. Once students have learned strategies to help them solve a division problem, it's time to create an adorable donut craft to show off their learning. Make sure you download the FREE DIVISION PRINTABLES which includes the donut craft!
Download and print out the FREE Donut Division Cards. Students will be determining how many donuts (objects) each box (groups) will receive based on the question cards. Give students time to equally share the Mini Donut Erasers to each box. The goal is to find out how many donuts (objects) each box (group) can receive. I like to use this activity group activity or with partners. My main goal is to just have students practice creating equal shares.
One of the first strategies I like to use to teach multiplication is an array. Since division is the inverse, or opposite, of multiplication, you can use arrays to help students understand how multiplication and division are related.
Have students roll two Playing Dice or use Mini Classic Dominos. Students will use the two numbers rolled to create an array using the Mosaic Manipulative Set. The Mosaic Manipulative Set is perfect to use for arrays since it has even rows and columns. Students can either use the manipulatives provided or lay Mini Donut Erasers on top of the base.
Once the array is built students can discuss how many donuts would be in each group using the model as a guide.
The Dry Erase Number Line is a must need for all classrooms. It is it very difficult to find a number line that goes to 120 and is laminated. I love the fact that students can flip the number line over and create their very own number line if needed.
Using the Dry Erase Number Line, have students practice division by using the repeated subtraction method. For any student who needs more space, have students flip it over and create their own number line. A handful of my students still needed the Mini Donut Erasers as they practiced the repeated subtraction method. Students placed the Mini Donut Erasers are the top of the number line and took them away as they subtracted.
Math fact families are important because they help students understand the connection between multiplication and division. It is important that students understand that division is the inverse operation of multiplication. Give students two Foam Player Dice. Students will roll each dice and write the number rolled on their recording sheet. I like to have my students color code their FREE RECORDING SHEET by coloring each circle to match a dice. Since there is no pink dice, students used that color for the product of the multiplication sentence. Students then continue to finish the fact families with two division problems. Don't forget to allow students to use the Mini Donut Erasers or Dry Erase Number Line.
Now that students have a great understanding of division, let's get some of their thinking on paper! Print out and prep the FREE DIVISION CENTERS PRINTABLES. Have students create the donut craft using Elmer's Glue, Assorted Multicultural Construction Paper, and a few colors of Colored Construction Paper. Students will then solve the division problems and attach to their donut. Then, students will pick one division problem to explain using a visual representation and in writing. This higher-level skill will allow you to quickly see who has a great understanding on division.
