Lesson 13

The purpose of this lesson is for students to deepen their understanding of an algorithm using partial quotients and use it to divide up to four-digit dividends by two-digit divisors.

In previous lessons, students compared different strategies to divide multi-digit numbers and learned to use an algorithm using partial quotients for division. In this lesson they refine strategies for using an algorithm using partial quotients. In the first activity, students compare their strategies, giving them an opportunity both to explain why they chose their partial quotients and to see that different choices are possible. In the second activity, they begin by estimating the value of the quotient and then use the estimate to help guide the partial quotients choices in the algorithm. 

Reflect on who participated in math class today. What assumptions are you making about those who did not participate? How can you leverage each of your students’ ideas to support them in being seen and heard in tomorrow’s math class?