Division Lesson Plans for 4th Grade Teachers

Lesson Plans for Teaching 4th Grade Division

Getting Started

All math lesson plans for 4th grade can follow the same general format. Your first step should be to come up with core curriculum objectives and expected learning outcomes for division. Determine what vocabulary terms you'll introduce and what materials you'll need.

Learning Outcomes

Each lesson will have its own anticipated learning outcomes. Below are some learning outcomes that fit 4th grade standards.

1. Students can explain the relationship between division and multiplication.
2. Students can explain division using manipulatives, rectangular arrays or area models.
3. Students can use the long division symbol to divide up to a 4-digit dividend by a 1-digit divisor with a remainder or no remainder.
4. Students can solve a division problem that is presented as an equation.

Introducing the Lesson

The lesson introduction should stimulate students to want to learn the lesson that you're presenting. You can engage them first by tapping into their previous knowledge or interests. Then, incorporate an activity that introduces the concept you're presenting.

For example, asking a question like, 'If I had 48 brownies and wanted to share them with all of 25 of you, how could I divide it up?' will often produce novel, realistic and enthusiastic suggestions. Some of the answers could lead into the lesson. Of course, if you had 48 real brownies to share at the end of the class, enthusiasm for the lesson would likely escalate.

Demonstrating and Practicing the Concept

You can demonstrate division concepts to your 4th graders using manipulatives, rectangular arrays and area models. As you use these visual aids, guide your students to write the corresponding equation. For example, you can use a 5 x 2 array to explain a division problem: 10 ÷ 5 = 2. Use the total number of objects in the array and divide it by the number of rows; the answer is equal to the number of columns. If you divide by the number of columns, the answer equals the number of rows.

Give your students an array or an area model and ask them to write an equation for it. Guide them until you're sure they understand the concept. Once the students are ready for independent practice, give them a worksheet or another activity that reinforces what they learned.

Finishing the Lesson

At the end of the class period, close the lesson by asking students to write a couple of their own division problems to trade with a classmate. Alternatively, you can play a quick division game that ends the lesson on a fun note.