Lesson 11
Divide Unit Fractions by Whole Numbers
Lesson Purpose
The purpose of this lesson is for students to divide a unit fraction by a whole number.
Lesson Narrative
The purpose of this lesson is for students to determine the size of the piece when a unit fraction is divided into equally sized parts. Students revisit the context of a pan of macaroni and cheese from earlier lessons when they multiplied unit fractions by unit fractions. The familiar context can help students make connections between multiplication and division. Students should be encouraged to solve the problems in a way that makes sense to them. The relationship between multiplication and division is meant to be exploratory. In later lessons, students will formalize this relationship.
- Representation
Learning Goals
Teacher Facing
- Divide a unit fraction by a whole number, in context, in a way that makes sense to them.
Student Facing
- Let’s divide a unit fraction by a whole number.
Required Materials
Materials to Gather
Required Preparation
CCSS Standards
Lesson Timeline
| Warm-up | 10 min |
| Activity 1 | 15 min |
| Activity 2 | 20 min |
| Lesson Synthesis | 10 min |
| Cool-down | 5 min |
Teacher Reflection Questions
How did the student work you selected impact the direction of the discussion? What student work might you pick next time if you taught the lesson again?
Suggested Centers
- Rolling for Fractions (3–5), Stage 4: Multiply Fractions (Addressing)
- Compare (1–5), Stage 4: Divide within 100 (Supporting)
- How Close? (1–5), Stage 7: Multiply Fractions and Whole Numbers to 5 (Supporting)