Multiplication and division - Make equal groups grouping activity - Presentation

In an engaging lesson on multiplication and division, students are introduced to the concept of making equal groups through a grouping activity. The lesson begins with a discussion on what the students already know about grouping and what the term 'equal' signifies. This sets the stage for a practical application of the concepts, where students are invited to help Tia prepare for her party by arranging 20 balloons into equal groups of five. The presentation visually demonstrates the step-by-step process of creating one group of five balloons, then two, and so on, until four equal groups are formed, each containing five balloons. This interactive approach helps students understand the concept of equal distribution and lays the groundwork for learning about division as making equal groups.

The lesson continues with further practical examples, such as grouping 20 leaves into equal groups of four, and then challenges students to create equal groups with different quantities of objects. For instance, they are asked if they can make equal groups of two and five with 10 objects. The lesson also addresses scenarios where objects cannot be equally divided, such as when trying to divide nine pears into groups of two. However, it shows that the same number of pears can be grouped into threes, resulting in three equal groups. To reinforce the concept, students are asked to figure out how many plates would be needed to make equal groups of three doughnuts, leading to a hands-on activity where they determine the number of different equal groups that can be made with 12 objects. This encourages discussion and critical thinking as students explore the various possibilities of grouping items equally.