Decimal - Division to solve problems - Planning

In the Year 6 lesson focused on 'Division to solve problems', students are encouraged to deepen their understanding of division when dealing with decimals up to two decimal places. The lesson commences with a starter activity to recap previous learning, followed by a class discussion on the appropriate operations and methods needed to solve word problems involving money. The use of long division is introduced, with a particular emphasis on the exchange process, where students learn to carry remainders forward and convert ones into tenths and tenths into hundredths. This knowledge is then applied to real-life scenarios, such as dividing money amounts to calculate the cost of individual items within a larger total.

Students engage in a variety of activities to practice these skills, including partner discussions and group work, where they solve reasoning problems and share their strategies. To aid understanding, they explore how to represent problems using bar models and how to label these models effectively. The lesson aims to address common misconceptions, particularly around division using place value counters and the need for exchanging. A reflective 'Give me five' plenary helps students consolidate what they've learned, including the division of decimals by integers and the skills employed during the lesson. Differentiated worksheets are provided to cater to varying levels of ability, ranging from one-step word problems to multi-step problems involving more complex decimal calculations, ensuring progression from working towards the expected level to achieving greater depth in their mathematical understanding.