Division Ideas for Third Grade
Third grade is often the point at which students are first introduced to the mathematical concept of division during their class work. Following the basics of addition and subtraction, multiplication is introduced and then division. Often children of this young age find division more complicated that the other forms of arithmetic, but there are several ways to help them grasp the concept of division and progress smoothly and easily into more advanced mathematics.
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Candy Counter
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If there is something that most third-graders will agree on, it’s that candy is interesting. Using candy to help children learn a math process they may not find quite so interesting is a good way to keep their attention while you explain it.
The teacher gives the children in the class an even number of wrapped candies to place on their desks. Each child should have the same number; 12 is good to begin with. The teacher asks the students to count all of the candies in the pile and then make two piles with exactly the same number of candies in each. The students will likely place one candy at a time into two alternating piles. When the two piles are finished, the teacher asks them to count how many candies are in each pile. Their answer, if they followed directions, will be six.
The teacher explains that they divided the initial count of 12 by two (two piles), then writes the math problem on the board and explains the concept. The teacher then asks the children to divide the candies into three piles, and then four.
Opposite of Multiplication
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Students can learn division by using what they already know about multiplication. The teacher explains that five times two equals 10. They probably already know this and understand how it works. By explaining that the students can then take the product and divide it by either of the two factors to get the other factor will help them understand the basic concept of division. Once they realize that simple division is no more difficult than simple multiplication, they will have more confidence.
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Snack Time Division
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Combining a new concept with a visual aid is always helpful in explaining the concept to students of all ages. Using a visual aid that the children get to enjoy eating at the end of the lesson will make that lesson more appealing and hold the students' interest.
Students are presented with a large sheet cake with a popular flavor of icing on it to literally sweeten the deal. The teacher cuts the cake into equal pieces (at least enough for every student to have one) and then explains the concept of division. The total number of pieces (use 20 for this example) in the cake can be used as a visual aid by asking the class how many pieces would be in half the cake. They can count them and see that it is 10. The teacher explains that by dividing the cake in half they have determined how to divide by two, and so on. Successful completion of the lesson signals a sweet dessert for the entire class.
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