What Is Division? Sharing Equally (3rd Grade)

What is it?

Division means sharing fairly. In 12 ÷ 3, there are 12 things to share into 3 equal groups, and the answer is how many each group gets. The lesson deals counters onto 3 plates one at a time, the way you might deal cards, until none are left. Then it checks the answer with multiplication, which shows your child that division and multiplication are two sides of the same fact.

Step by step: 12 ÷ 3

1. 12 ÷ 3 means share 12 into 3 equal groups.
2. Set out 3 plates.
3. Deal the counters out: one for each plate, again and again.
4. When they are all dealt, every plate has 4. The shares are equal.
5. So 12 ÷ 3 = 4. Check with times: 3 groups of 4 is 12.

Common mistakes

• Making groups that are not equal. Every share must be the same size.
• Stopping before all 12 counters are dealt out.
• Confusing the number of groups with the answer. Here 3 is the number of plates; the answer is how many are on each plate.

Your turn

The lesson ends with a problem to try. Pause and let your child work it out before you check.

What is 15 ÷ 5?

Answer: 3. Share 15 into 5 groups, and each plate gets 3. Check: 5 × 3 = 15.

Practice at home

Deal out cards, crackers or toy cars to stuffed animals, one at a time, so every animal gets the same number. Say the division fact afterwards ("12 shared by 4 is 3") and check it with times. Try a number that does not share evenly and talk about the leftover.