Every year when we hit the "interpret the remainder" section, teachers and students alike hit melt-down mode. For many of my students, the word "interpret" is tricky and they instantly decide they aren't having it.
I always introduce this lesson by acting out real life situations where remainders would exist: for example, I tell them I'm going to the supermarket to buy 8 cupcakes, but since they only come in packages of 6, I'm going to open up a package and take two out.
"No, Miss I! You can't do that! You'll get arrested!"
Hmm...then what should I do? I need to make sure to have enough for everyone, so I must buy 2 packages so I have enough.
I then act out a "real life" example for each way to interpret a remainder. As I do, I jot down what we did with the remainder on the board.
Did we:
Drop the remainder?
Use it as the answer?
Add 1 to the quotient?
Turn the remainder into a fraction?
I created the following center activity for my students to practice basic division with remainders and problem-solving with interpreting the remainder.
So far, it has been a huge hit! Click on the photos below to visit my TPT page.
I hope this activity will help your students stay in school-mode before the holidays!!
xoxo,
Miss I.
