Objective

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to illustrate and write division expressions using repeated subtraction. They will understand how division works by breaking down numbers into smaller groups and will be able to represent this both with pictures and numbers.

Materials and Prep

• Paper
• Pencil
• Colored pencils or markers
• Small objects (like buttons, coins, or blocks) for counting

Before the lesson, ensure the student understands basic subtraction and is comfortable counting with small objects. Prepare a quiet workspace where the student can focus on the activities.

Activities

• Activity 1: Repeated Subtraction with Objects

  Using small objects, have the student group them into sets. For example, if they have 12 buttons, ask them to make groups of 3. Then, demonstrate how to subtract 3 repeatedly until they reach 0. This shows how division works as repeated subtraction.

• Activity 2: Drawing Division

  Have the student draw pictures to represent their division problems. For example, if they are dividing 12 by 3, they can draw 12 apples and then group them into sets of 3. This visual representation helps them understand the concept better.

• Activity 3: Writing Division Expressions

  After completing the previous activities, ask the student to write the division expression for what they just did. For instance, they can write "12 ÷ 3 = 4" and explain what each part means. This reinforces their understanding of the symbols used in division.

Talking Points

• "When we divide, we are breaking a number into smaller groups. Can you think of a time when you've shared something equally?"
• "Division is like subtraction! If I have 12 candies and I eat 3, how many do I have left? That's one step of division!"
• "Look at these objects! If we have 12 and want to make groups of 3, how many groups can we make?"
• "Can you draw a picture of our division problem? What does it look like when we group them?"
• "Writing the division expression helps us see the problem clearly. What does '12 ÷ 3' mean to you?"
• "Remember, each time we subtract 3 from 12, we are getting closer to zero. How many times can we do that?"
• "Division is just sharing! If you have 12 toys and want to share them with 3 friends, how many does each friend get?"