Draw So Cute Animals With Dice Game

Division is usually the last of the four basic functions that kids tackle, and it's not always easy. These games and activities provide a variety of engaging ways to make teaching division more effective—and more fun. They're all free, too! Check them out and add a few to your math lesson plans.

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1. Introduce division as sharing

Printed worksheet with two ice cream cones and pile of red poms poms representing cherries

When it comes down to it, isn't division really just sharing? Play this simple game where kids roll dice and share out pom-pom cherries as equally as possible. It's a great start to teaching division.

Learn more: JDaniel4's Mom

2. Continue teaching division by reading a book or two

Collage of books about teaching division

Kids are never too old for storytime. These clever books are the perfect jumping-off point for teaching division, especially if you have kids use counters like pom-poms to act out the story as you go.

Divide and Ride (Murphy/Ulrich)
The Doorbell Rang (Hutchins)
The Multiplying Menace Divides (Calvert/Geehan)
A Remainder of One (Pinczes/MacKain)
Bean Thirteen (McElligott)

3. Make division anchor charts to support learning

Collage of anchor charts for teaching division

Keep anchor charts handy while you're teaching division to give students an easy reference when they struggle. Use these charts for inspiration:

Tricks to Learn Division Vocabulary, The Owl Teacher
Divisibility Rules, My Math Resources
Long Division with Sticky Notes, Caffeine Queen Teacher
Division Strategies, Room 330 Anchor Charts

4. Practice division facts with Wrap-Ups

Student wrapping yarn around Learning Wrap Ups

This division game is a fun alternative to flashcards. Kids wrap yarn around the cards from the problem on the left to the answer on the right. Then they flip over the card to see if they're right. Buy Learning Wrap Ups Division Keys here.

5. Try teaching division with LEGO bricks

Check out this video for an easy way to introduce division concepts to your students using perennially popular LEGO bricks. (Get more LEGO math ideas here.)

6. Sort jellybeans into an egg carton

Egg carton with jellybeans in some sections

As you pave the way for understanding division, try activities where kids divide large groups of objects into smaller equal groups. Jellybeans into an egg carton is one great way to do this.

Learn more: Homeschool Blog

7. Learn with licorice strings and Skittles

Student using licorice strings and Skittles to learn division

Kids always love math games that you can eat at the end! Pass out licorice strings and a bowlful of Skittles, and use them for a lesson on division.

Learn more: Tales from Outside the Classroom

8. Work on different division strategies

Division Mat worksheet in a sheet protector with markers

For kids who really struggle with the concept, try teaching division strategies using this free printable mat. It gives them a variety of ways to tackle division problems.

Learn more: Teaching With Jennifer Findley

9. Batter up for division facts

Student rolling dice to play division baseball game

Calling all sports fans! Grab this free printable baseball division game and roll the dice as you compete to see who can hit a home run.

Learn more: 123Homeschool4Me/Baseball Division Game

10. Make division flower learning aids

Paper flower with 5 in the middle, with petals show dividends of 5

An important part of learning to divide is mastering the basic division facts. These cute flowers give kids a colorful way to quiz themselves.

Learn more: Ofamily Learning Together

11. Put together popsicle puzzles

Paper popsicle puzzles with division problems on the top and solutions on the bottom half

Snag these free printable popsicle puzzles at the link below to give kids another fun way to practice their division facts. (Plus, find more ways to use wood craft sticks in the classroom here.)

Learn more: 123Homeschool4Me/Popsicle Puzzles

12. Go Fish for division facts

Hands holding playing cards in front of a stack of cards

Give "Go Fish" a division spin! Instead of looking for matching pairs, players compete to find pairs of cards that divide evenly into each other. For instance, in the hand shown, the player could lay down the 8 and the 2, because they divide to make 4.

Learn more: Cuppa Cocoa

13. Win the division facts race

Toy cars with division problem cards and game board

If you've got a bin full of toy cars, this division practice game is for you. Grab the free printables and learn how to play at the link.

Learn more: Deceptively Educational

14. Assemble division star puzzles

Paper star with division problems and answers, cut into pieces with pair of scissors

These pretty star puzzles are deceptively tricky! Think of them as dominoes for division. Get a free full printable set at the link.

Learn more: Hojo's Teaching Adventures

15. Fight the division dragon

Student holding division game cards featuring a sword and a dragon (Teaching Division)

Sharpen your sword and get ready to complete The Knight's Quest! This free printable game is another engaging way to practice your division facts.

Learn more: 123Homeschool4Me/Division Dragon

16. Take a turn at Jenga

Students holding clipboards and using pencils to push wooden blocks out of a tower

It's so fun to use Jenga in the classroom! Create a set of division facts flashcards using colored paper that matches the Jenga block colors. Kids choose a card, answer the question, and then try to remove a block of that color from the stack.

Learn more: Life Between Summers

17. Play a monster board game

Monster division game with division problems in each square

Grab this free printable board to give your students practice dividing by threes. If you like it, the rest are available for purchase.

Learn more: Teacher's Takeout

18. Roll and write number sentences

$Oversized dice with Number Sentence Roll and Write worksheet (Teaching Division)$

Dice are a terrific tool for teaching division number sentences. Kids simply roll two dice, then write the multiplication and division number sentences for them. (Tip: Try using dice-in-dice to up the fun factor. Here are other fun dice-in-dice activities too!)

Learn more: Math Geek Mama

19. Write the room to practice division facts

Students using pencils to write on I Spy Division worksheets on clipboards (Teaching Division)

Write the room activities get kids up and moving, which is terrific for learning. Hang these free printable cards around the room, then give kids a clipboard and answer sheet and send them off to find and solve the division facts.

Learn more: The Applicious Teacher

20. Solve a division puzzle square

Division Squares: Each row and column is a division problem. Complete the math and write the answers in the empty spaces.

These puzzling squares challenge kids to fill in the correct numbers as they try to create a division problem that works in every direction. Grab the printable at the link.

Learn more: Education.com

21. Spin and divide

Spinning Division worksheet with spinner wheel and division problems with blanks

These free printables offer another way to practice division facts. Use a pencil and paperclip to make the spinner.

Learn more: 3 Dinosaurs

22. Draw Equation Maker games

Three sections of a white board with numbers written in each and markers on some numbers (Teaching Division)

In the first block, write a series of dividends. Write divisors in the second block and quotients in the third. Kids use markers to cover the numbers that make up a correct equation.

Learn more: Fun Games 4 Learning

23. Solve using the Does McDonald's Serve Burgers? method

Anchor chart outlining Does (divide) McDonald's (multiply) Serve (Subtract), Burgers (Bring Down) method of long division

As you start to tackle long division, there are a variety of methods you can use. One popular option is this one, which gives kids a way to remember the steps: divide, multiply, subtract, and bring down.

Learn more: Brittany Noll-Cooper/Pinterest

24. Lay out playing cards for long division

Playing cards laid out to represent a long division problem

Here's a fun, hands-on long division game that uses a deck of playing cards. You can start out with equations that don't require remainders, then get more complicated as kids progress.

25. Work on division facts with triangle cards

Three-Corner Flash Cards (Teaching Division)

Triangle flashcards are a simple tool for teaching division and multiplication. You cover one corner with your hand, then divide if the colors don't match or multiply if they're the same. You can make a set of your own, or buy them on Amazon here.

26. Go on a treasure hunt

Treasure Map long division game printable worksheet

Everything is a little more fun with a treasure map! Students solve the equations and cross off the answers until only one number is left—X marks the spot!

Learn more: Education.com

27. Use the Herding Game for teaching division with remainders

Students standing together in a taped-off square in the corner (Teaching Division)

Just when kids think they have division all figured out, along come remainders! Teaching division with remainders can be one of the trickiest tasks, so start by playing this fun and active game. For each round, the teacher calls out different groups of animals for students to form ("Form herds of 5 elephants!"). Any leftover students who don't fit into the group go into the "holding pen," introducing the idea of remainders.

Learn more: The Teacher Studio/The Herding Game

28. See remainders in real life with cookies

Cookie Capers division game charts

Buy a couple of bags of cookies and ask your class to find the best way to divide them up fairly. Consider whether remainder cookies can be divided to add fractions into the mix. Now that's some delicious math!

Learn more: The Teacher Studio/Division Cookies

29. Turn remainders into a good thing

Remainders Wanted division game worksheets with bag of markers (Teaching Division)

Make teaching remainders more fun with this game that turns them into the most wanted! The goal for each round is to wind up with the highest reminder. You'll need dice, counters, and the free printable game sheets you can find at the link.

Learn more: Teacher Scout Mom

30. Learn to play Damult Dice Division

Three dice next to division problem 56 / 2 = 28 + 10 bonus is 38 points!

Grab three dice and a pencil and paper for this strategy game, named after the teacher who invented it. Roll three dice, and determine the division problem that gives you the highest possible quotient (rounded to the nearest whole number). You get 10 bonus points if there's no remainder!

Learn more: Math for Love

31. Create a division house

The Division House worksheet with drawing of a house with trees and clouds (Teaching Division)

This is such a creative way of teaching division! Kids answer a series of questions to determine the specifications of their "division house." For instance, to determine the number of windows in the house, students must divide the day of the month they were born by the number of kids in their family. When they're done with the math, it's time to draw their house!

Learn more: Teaching With a Mountain View

32. Batter up for long division baseball

$Card showing division problem 487 divided by 7 with game worksheet$

This long division game requires a little strategy, as kids roll dice and try to create problems that give them the highest possible quotient on each turn. Wrong answers count as a strike, so be careful! Learn how to play and get the free printables at the link.

Learn More: You've Got This Math

33. Adopt and care for pets

Pet Me Division Game

Add this super cute game to your rainy-day closet, and kids will learn and practice division without even realizing it! Get it from Amazon here.

34. Pass out play money to make teaching division meaningful

Student counting play money into piles

Money activities always grab kids' attention because they know they can use them someday in the real world. Pull out your stack of play money and learn how to use it for teaching division at the link.

Learn more: Shut the Door and Teach

35. Use Bingo for teaching division as fractions

$Bingo card showing circles divided into sections with markers on some squares (Teaching Division)$

Division and fractions go hand in hand. This free printable Bingo game helps kids understand the connection between the two.