2 lessons · Ages 7-8
Division for kids
Sharing a whole into equal parts.
Division has two meanings — sharing equally, and making equal groups. Singapore Math teaches both, so kids can recognize a division problem in any word problem.
1
Sharing equally
One for you, one for you, one for me.
Sharing division deals items out one at a time until the pile is gone: twelve shared between three. The answer is how many each one gets. This is usually the first division meaning children meet, around ages six to eight.
6 min · Age 7-8
2
Making equal groups
How many groups fit?
Grouping division asks a different question with the same numbers: twelve items, three in each bag — how many bags? Children who only know sharing get stuck here, so both meanings need to be taught explicitly. Typically ages seven to eight.
5 min · Age 7-8