Dividing Fractions: Keep, Change, Flip

Student Task

• Start with the model in the lesson plan: how many quarter cups are in 3 cups?
• Teach keep, change, flip, then use activities 1 to 4 for practice.
• Use the word problems and the drawing task to check understanding; answers are in the answer key.

Classroom Use

• Measuring cups: show how many 1/4 cups of rice fill 2 cups.
• Paper strips: fold strips into thirds to show 2 ÷ 1/3 = 6.
• Error hunt: show a worked example that flips the wrong fraction and ask students to fix it.

Differentiation

Support: start with whole numbers divided by unit fractions (3 ÷ 1/4) and draw models. Challenge: include mixed numbers (convert 1 1/2 to 3/2 first).

Answer Key & Assessment

Activities 1 to 4 check the method and reciprocals; activities 5 and 6 check word problems and models (answer key included).

Learning Objectives

• Explain what dividing by a fraction means using a model (how many groups of 1/4 are in 3?).
• Divide fractions and whole numbers using reciprocals (keep, change, flip) and give answers in simplest form.
• Solve word problems that involve dividing fractions.

Teacher Tips

Always ask students to estimate first: dividing by a fraction less than 1 gives a bigger answer. If an answer is smaller, they probably flipped the wrong fraction.

What's Included

• 6-page printable PDF lesson pack: teacher lesson plan with timings, materials and differentiation
• Key vocabulary list (4 words with meanings and examples)
• Student worksheet (6 activities)
• Editable Word version of the worksheet
• Complete answer key (also as a separate PDF)

Additional Files

• Editable Worksheet (Word) (DOCX)
• Answer Key (PDF) (PDF)

Teacher Reviews