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Introducing Division (IX)

© Vidya Narayan Wadadekar

Once children are familiar with the basic division facts which do not involve remainders, I introduce the complete table having divisions with remainders. This table has all the numbers from 1 to 12 in every row. However, in the first row all the numbers has devisor 1, the second row has divisor 2, and so on.

Next, select dividend greater than 30 and the divisor should divide the selected dividend even number of times. Thus, there should be no carrying; no remainders. For example, 84 divided by 2.

I have found that the division given above, well as divisions having dividend with 2 or more digits could be taught easily by using play money or imitation currency. Children find out their own ways to solve these division problems with play money successfully and the mistakes are automatically minimized. Let us see how children handle the division 84 divided by 2.

Choose two children in the class. Give them eight ten-dollars and four one-dollars. Ask them to share the given amount. The eight ten-dollars they distribute as four/four ten-dollars. The remaining 4 one-dollars they distribute as 2/2 one-dollars. Thus each one gets 4 ten-dollars plus 2 one-dollars. That is altogether each child gets 42 dollars. They see this process and get the answer 42 for 84 divided by 2. The only guidance they require at this stage is about the recording. The recording of the operation should be done as shown here:

I provide many opportunities for children in the class to perform division with play money. I give following types of problems to solve:

1. I purchased balls for 75 dollars. If the cost of each ball was $5, how many balls I can purchase?
2. I have 66 dollars. If one pen costs $3, how many pens I can purchase in 66 dollars?
3. I have 80 dollars to distribute. To how many children in my class I can distribute 4 each to buy cookies of his/her choice?
4. If one flag costs $1, how many flags I can have in 45 dollars?

After solving many problems with play money, I show them how to show the division pictorially. This helps them to switch over to larger divisions easily. I have shown below the representation of 84 divided by 2 pictorially: Note, that I have used here light blue for representing beads in Ones place and dark blue color for representing beads in Tens place. This not only helps the child to differentiate the value of Ones from the Tens but helps to remember that both these places are treated jointly.

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