Need a way to teach this concept to 10 year olds?

Question

okay..im trying to explain to a 10 year old how to change a rate--say $12 for 3 lbs to a unit rate ---$ 4 per lb in the simplest, least wordy way- if i teach them by way of division...how do explain what number is the dividend and what # is the divisor...he doesnt get proportions yet and i dont want to give it before it is taught in school

Answer 1

Use something he is interested in...

If you can buy 3 video games for $60, how much for 1 video game?

If you can buy 4 pizzas for $20, how much for 1 pizza?

He should be able to figure it is division...

Answer 2

Use pennies and an object to signify the "thing" (marbles perhaps) and say you can get 2 marbles for 10 pennies, and each marble "costs" the same amount, so if you only want one marble, it would take 1/2 the amount of 10 pennies. Once you have that cost per single thing, then you can go, well if 1 marble costs 5 pennies, then 2 marbles cost 10, how many marbles for 3 and so on....make it visual.

Answer 3

The divisor is the term after "per" and the dividend is the other number.

Answer 4

Tell him that all he has to do is take the amount of money and divide it by the number of of the things it says you are buying. Teach him by using something he is used to, and than slowly add a little more in at a time.

Answer 5

Why are you so concerned with him getting it before they teach it in schools? We are teaching this same thing to our eight year old right now, and it will be in school some day. She is a little murky on the concept right now, but I should think a ten year old should be able to grasp that concept.

Answer 6

Explain that if 3lbs. cost $12 then if you divide $12 by 3 you will get the price per pound. Simply put.