Dividing Fractions with Models

Many times students want to jump right in and work with the numbers. While they may understand a process to come to the correct answer, it is important that they understand what is happening conceptually. When working with fractions, encourage your students to model how to “cut apart” shapes to represent dividing by a whole number or fraction.

Teach Starter has created a match-up activity for your fifth-grade students to practice dividing fractions with models. This resource includes 36 total cards, 12 models, 12 expressions, and 12 quotients. There is also a student recording sheet and an answer key.

The cards should be cut apart and ideally laminated or printed on durable card stock prior to student use. Students should organize their cards by type and begin analyzing the models to determine the corresponding expression and quotient. Students can record their responses on the provided sheet and check their work with the key.

The goal of this resource is to practice representing division expressions using various model types and solve for the quotient.

Tips for Differentiation + Scaffolding 

A team of dedicated, experienced educators created this resource to support your math lessons. 

In addition to individual student work time, use this match-up activity to enhance learning through guided math groups or whole class lessons.

If you have a mixture of above and below-level learners, check out these suggestions for keeping students on track with the concepts: 

🆘 Support Struggling Students

To support students further, remove some matches to reduce the workload. The teacher can work one-on-one with students to discuss each model and provide reminders for how to determine what each model represents.

➕ Challenge Fast Finishers

To challenge students further, set the cards up as a memory match game, and students can add their own matches to the set. Teachers can also set up a gallery walk where a few matches are made incorrectly, and students need to determine the errors.

Check out some of our other resources that cover dividing a unit fraction by a whole number and dividing a whole number by a unit fraction!

Easily Prepare This Resource for Your Students

Use the dropdown icon on the Download button to choose between the PDF or editable Google Slides version of this resource. A recording sheet and answer key are also included with this download.

Print on cardstock for added durability and longevity. Place all pieces in a folder or large envelope for easy access. 

Sustainability Tip: Print a few recording sheets on cardstock and slip them into dry-erase sleeves. Students can record their answers with a whiteboard marker, then erase and reuse them.  

This resource was created by Lorin Davies, a teacher in Texas and a Teach Starter Collaborator. 

Don’t stop there! We’ve got more activities and resources that cut down on lesson planning time:  

teaching resource

Number Talks - Dividing with Unit Fractions Task Cards

Build fractional reasoning with this set of 24 task cards.