standard_description: Apply and extend previous understandings of division to divide unit fractions by whole numbers and whole numbers by unit fractions. (Students able to multiply fractions in general can develop strategies to divide fractions in general, by reasoning about the relationship between multiplication and division. But division of a fraction by a fraction is not a requirement at this grade.)
problem_activity: Narrative
The purpose of this Number Talk is for students to interpret a fraction as division of the numerator by the denominator. The strategies elicited here will be helpful later in the lesson when students match division situations, expressions, and diagrams. In this activity, students have an opportunity to notice and make use of structure (MP7) because the divisor stays the same.
Launch
Display one problem.
“Give me a signal when you have an answer and can explain how you got it.”
Activity
1 minute: quiet think time
Record answers and strategy.
Keep problems and work displayed.
Repeat with each problem.
Student Facing
Find the value of each expression mentally.
\(35 \div 7\)
\(1 \div 7\)
\(36 \div 7\)
\(37 \div 7\)
Student Response
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Activity Synthesis
“What patterns do you notice?” (The solutions for
\(35 \div 7\)
,
\(36 \div 7\)
,
\(37 \div 7\)
increase by
\(\frac {1}{7}\)
)
“If we kept increasing the dividend by 1, what would be the next whole number quotient?” (6)


aligns: no