How to Teach Division With Whole Numbers

Teaching division with whole numbers is easier than you might think. If you are teaching division to a class of young students, it is best to teach them visually instead of factually. In time, after understanding the concept of division, memorizing the facts of division will come easier for the class, but when you are first teaching them the main points of division, it is easier for them to understand (and also easier for you to teach) if you teach them visually with concepts that are already familiar to them. Read this article to find out how.

Things You'll Need

• An even number of counting objects (blocks, cookies, etc.)
• Pizza (a real one if possible)
• A piece of paper for each student
• Scissors for each student
• Crayons or markers for each student

Instructions

How To Teach Division with Whole Numbers

1. Teach the basic concept. Explain to your classroom of students that no matter if they realize it or not, they use division every day. Division happens when a toy or food item is shared between two or more people.

2. Divide the class in half. If you have a class of 14 students, explain to them that by dividing them in half will be the same as working the division problem 14 divided by 2. Instruct one student to sit on one side of the room, then instruct another child to side on the opposite side of the room. Continue this pattern until all children are siiting on one side or the other. If you have a class of 15 children, explain to them that 15 is an odd number and cannot be divided in half.

3. Order a pizza for your class. Ask the pizza place not to cut it into slices. When the pizza arrives, divide the pizza into the number of children that will need to eat. If you have a class of 14 students, explain to them that the division problem 1 divided by 14 is not a valid problem, but 14 divided by 1 is. One pizza can be divided into 14 smaller pieces.

4. Divide objects. Have a bag or box full of objects ready to divide to your students. Say, "I have 10 wooden blocks. If I want to give my blocks to 2 of my friends, how many will each friend get?" Allow students to figure out the problem and divide blocks according to the answer given. If the wrong answer was given, do not correct it; use the opportunity as a teaching tool. The blocks cannot be divided evenly if one friend received 3 blocks and the other friend received 2. Allow students to come up with the correct answer for the division problem by trial and error.

5. Allow students to share. By using a piece of paper and crayons and markers, instruct the students to creat objects to divide between their friends. Students should cut out their creations and create division problems with the number of their cut outs and the number of friends they will share with. For example, if one student draws and cuts out 8 candy bars and finds 4 friends to give them to, that student will need to create and answer the division problem of 8 divided by 4 equals 2.