Teaching/reviewing the concept of division
Concrete: students use objects (kidney beans, tiles, etc.) to explore/review the “grouping” idea of division. (Jo started with 8 beans. He divided them into 4 groups. How many beans are in each group? This is often called the “make groups” division strategy.) Use the same materials to create multiplication situations. (Jo had 4 groups of beans. He had 2 beans in each group. How many beans did he have in all? )
Pictorial: students draw the groups. Again, students relate division to multiplication using the same pictures.
Abstract: students relate multiplication to division using number sentences. This is often called the “think multiplication” division strategy. Some students may also choose to use the “repeat subtraction” division strategy.
Groups Division Strategy
8 divided by 2 means 8 divided into 2 groups. Start with 8, and make tallies in each group until you use up all 8.
8 divided by 2 = 4
Also, 2 x 4 = 8
"Think Multiplication" Division Strategy: 8 divided by 4 = ? Think, “4 times what equals 8?”
"Repeat Subtraction" Division Strategy: 12 divided by 4 = ?
12 - 4 - 4 - 4 = 0. There are 3 fours in 12. Therefore, 12 divided by 4 = 3.