Multiplication and division - Divide by 2 - Planning

The lesson plan for Year 3 students during the Autumn term on Multiplication and Division focuses on the concept of dividing by 2. As a foundational mathematical skill, children are expected to build on their understanding of grouping and sharing, as well as their knowledge of the 2 times table. The lesson begins with a starter activity that encourages children to recall these pre-existing skills, which will aid them in grasping the concept of division. The class teaching input includes a presentation that illustrates how dividing by 2 equates to sharing into two equal groups or halving a quantity. Through these activities, students learn to see the relationship between division, halving, and multiplication, and they practice writing number sentences that represent these concepts.

The independent learning phase of the lesson involves differentiated activities where children use practical resources such as scissors to cut out word problems and demonstrate their understanding by grouping objects into pairs or sharing them into two groups. They then translate these actions into both division and multiplication sentences. The plenary session provides an opportunity for reflection, where children discuss what they have learned and identify any challenges they faced. To cater to different levels of ability, the lesson includes tasks that range from working towards the expected level, where children divide by smaller numbers, to greater depth, where they tackle more complex problems and divide larger numbers mentally by understanding place value. This structured approach ensures that all students can progress in their ability to divide by 2, with the aim of becoming efficient and confident in their mathematical reasoning.