Grade Levels: 3-5, 6-8

In this lesson plan, adaptable for grades 3-8, students use BrainPOP resources to explore the strategies for dividing decimals.  

Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards Alignments

Students will:

  1. Make real life connections for the skill of dividing decimals.
  2. Learn how to divide decimals.
  3. Practice dividing decimals

Materials:

  • Internet access for BrainPOP
  • Interactive whiteboard

Vocabulary:

division, decimal, dividend, divisor, quotient, remainder

Preparation:

Lesson Procedure:

  1. Tell students that today they will explore the concept of dividing decimals. Ask the class to brainstorm a time when they needed to divide a decimal, such as an amount of money. If necessary, prompt them by giving, such as “Last night my friend and I want out for dinner. The total was $24.12. We had to divide the decimal in two to figure out how much we each owed.” Write down students’ examples on the board.
  2. Ask students their strategies for dividing decimals. Write these ideas on the board, too.
  3. After everyone has had a chance to share, show the movie Dividing Decimals to the whole class, or have pairs watch on their own computer or devices.
  4. After watching, have students practice dividing decimals by completing the Worksheet exercise. If time allows, have them also complete the Graphic Organizer, or assign it for homework.
  5. Bring the class together again to share their results of the worksheet exercises. Invite volunteers to come up to the whiteboard to show how they calculated the answer.

Extension Activities:

Challenge students to create their own BrainPOP-style videos or screencasts explaining the process for dividing decimals.

Discover the origin of the word decimal, where the division sign came from, and more by exploring the Related Readings.