Division is the separating or splitting something into equal parts or groups. It is the result of "fair sharing". Example: there are 12 chocolates, and 3 friends want to share them; how do they divide the chocolates?
We use the ÷ symbol, or sometimes the / symbol, to mean divide: 12 ÷ 3 = 4 or 12 / 3 = 4. They should get four each. If there is an amount left over, it is called the "remainder."
Everyday Mathematics
Here are 12 engaging hands-on activities to teach Division to adults, focusing on the listed topics, along with materials for each activity:
Object Sharing:
Activity: Use small objects (e.g., buttons, beads) to demonstrate division by sharing them equally among groups.
Materials:
Small objects (buttons, beads, blocks).
Sorting trays.
Division Flashcards:
Activity: Provide flashcards with division problems. Participants solve them using mental math or manipulatives.
Materials:
Division flashcards.
Pens and markers.
Identity Rule Practice:
Activity: Provide problems where participants divide numbers by 1 and discuss why the result is always the same number.
Materials:
Problem cards.
Worksheets.
Real-Life Examples:
Activity: Use real-world scenarios (e.g., dividing items among one person) to practice dividing by 1.
Materials:
Scenario cards.
Worksheets.
Halving Game:
Activity: Provide numbers and ask participants to divide them by 2 using manipulatives or mental math.
Materials:
Number cards.
Small objects (e.g., counters).
Real-Life Halving:
Activity: Use examples like splitting a bill between two people to practice dividing by 2.
Materials:
Scenario cards.
Worksheets.
Group Division:
Activity: Group objects into sets of 3 or 4 and count the total to practice dividing by 3 and 4.
Materials:
Small objects.
Worksheets.
Skip Counting for Division:
Activity: Practice skip counting by 3's and 4's to reinforce division concepts.
Materials:
Number line templates.
Markers.
Division Patterns:
Activity: Explore patterns in division tables for numbers 5 through 9 (e.g., dividing by 5 results in multiples of 5).
Materials:
Worksheets with patterns.
Pens.
Real-Life Scenarios:
Activity: Use examples like dividing items among groups of 5–9 people to practice division.
Materials:
Scenario cards.
Worksheets.
Mixed Division Practice:
Activity: Combine all division concepts (dividing by 1–9) into a single exercise. Participants solve a variety of problems.
Materials:
Mixed problem worksheets.
Small objects for visual aids.
Division Bingo:
Activity: Create bingo cards with quotients of division problems. Call out problems, and participants mark the correct answers.
Materials:
Bingo cards.
Markers.
Here are 16 engaging hands-on activities to teach Division concepts to adults, focusing on remainders, larger numbers, and multi-digit division, along with materials for each activity:
Sharing Objects with Remainders:
Activity: Use small objects (e.g., buttons, beads) to divide into groups. Participants identify how many are left over as the remainder.
Materials:
Small objects (buttons, beads, blocks).
Sorting trays.
Real-Life Remainders:
Activity: Use real-world examples (e.g., dividing items like cookies among people) to practice identifying remainders.
Materials:
Scenario cards.
Worksheets.
Division Bingo with Remainders:
Activity: Create bingo cards with division problems and their remainders. Call out problems, and participants mark the correct answers.
Materials:
Bingo cards.
Markers.
Remainder Matching:
Activity: Provide division problems and ask participants to match them with their correct remainders.
Materials:
Problem cards.
Answer cards.
Long Division Practice:
Activity: Provide larger numbers and guide participants through the steps of long division.
Materials:
Worksheets with long division problems.
Pens and markers.
Real-Life Scenarios:
Activity: Use examples like dividing a budget or splitting a large quantity of items to practice dividing larger numbers.
Materials:
Scenario cards.
Worksheets.
Step-by-Step Division:
Activity: Provide problems with larger numbers that result in remainders. Guide participants through the steps of long division and identifying the remainder.
Materials:
Worksheets with problems.
Pens.
Real-Life Applications:
Activity: Use scenarios like dividing a shipment of items into boxes to practice dividing larger numbers with remainders.
Materials:
Scenario cards.
Worksheets.
Column Division Practice:
Activity: Provide 3-digit numbers and ask participants to divide them step by step using column division.
Materials:
Number cards with 3-digit numbers.
Worksheets.
Pens and markers.
Base-10 Block Division:
Activity: Use base-10 blocks to represent 3-digit numbers. Participants divide the blocks into groups and count the total.
Materials:
Base-10 blocks (units, rods).
Worksheets for recording answers.
Two-Digit Division Challenge:
Activity: Provide problems where participants divide by 2-digit numbers. Guide them through the steps of long division.
Materials:
Worksheets with problems.
Pens and markers.
Real-Life Scenarios:
Activity: Use examples like dividing a large sum of money into equal payments to practice dividing by 2-digit numbers.
Materials:
Scenario cards.
Worksheets.
Step-by-Step Division with Remainders:
Activity: Provide problems where participants divide by 2-digit numbers and identify the remainder.
Materials:
Worksheets with problems.
Pens.
Real-Life Applications:
Activity: Use scenarios like dividing a large group of items into smaller groups to practice dividing by 2-digit numbers with remainders.
Materials:
Scenario cards.
Worksheets.
Mixed Division Practice:
Activity: Combine all division concepts (remainders, larger numbers, multi-digit division) into a single exercise. Participants solve a variety of problems.
Materials:
Mixed problem worksheets.
Base-10 blocks or counters.
Division Relay:
Activity: Divide participants into teams. Each team races to solve division problems and write the answers on a board.
Materials:
Whiteboard or large paper.
Markers.
Problem cards.