Math Lesson Plan: Dividing Decimals

Objective: Students will be able to divide using decimals.

Lesson Opening

1. Ask the students to remind you how to multiply with decimals. Ask them if they think it is harder or easier to multiply with decimals than to multiply whole numbers. Try to get them to see that it is no more difficult.

1. Ask them what they think you are going to do today. Explain that you are going to divide with decimals. Ask them if they think dividing is going to be more or less difficult than multiplying.

Guided Practice

1. Quickly review long division. Remind the children of the terms (dividend and divisor). Remind them about Divide, Multiply, Subtract, Bring Down, or Dad, Mother, Sister, Brother. Do a couple of regular division problems on the board with them.

1. Explain that when there is a decimal in the dividend, all you need to do is move it up. Explain that when there is a decimal in a divisor, it is a little trickier. You have to move the decimal over until it disappears, and you have to move the decimal in the dividend along with it.

1. You may want to show them how moving the decimal place over doesn't change the problem. 10 / 2 = 100 / 20 = 1,000 / 200 and so on. This is the same concept used in equivalent fractions.

Independent Practice

1. Pass out dividing with decimals worksheets. Go over the first few together and have children who get a problem correct put it on the board. Remind the children to first move the decimal over, then divide as you normally would.

Closing

1. Ask the children if they can tell yet whether they think decimals or fractions are easier.