Math lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 45 minutes
Divisibility tests for 3, 6 and 9 using digit sums
Multiplication and division
CCSS 4.OA.B.4England: Y5 Multiplication and division
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Divisibility tests for 3, 6 and 9 using digit sums.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Divisibility tests for 2, 5 and 10
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
Materials: Counters for arrays, Multiplication grid, Base-ten blocks, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Divisibility tests for 2, 5 and 10). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Is 9030 divisible by 2? (yes / no) → yesPrompt: You only need to look at the last digit.
- Which number is divisible by 2 but not by 5? (4285 / 4280 / 4283 / 4284) → 4284Prompt: Check the last digit of each number.
- Is 1456 divisible by 5? (yes / no) → noPrompt: You only need to look at the last digit.
Hook · 5 min
- Show an array of chairs, eggs or windows and ask how many there are without counting one by one.
- Share the objective: Divisibility tests for 3, 6 and 9 using digit sums. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 10 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Is 9100 divisible by 9?
- Step 1: 9 + 1 + 0 + 0 = 10
- Step 2: 10 is not divisible by 9.
- Step 3: no
- Answer: no
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 10 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Is 2795 divisible by 3? (yes / no) → noPrompt: Add up the digits.
- Which number is divisible by 6? (9075 / 9076 / 9072 / 9074) → 9072Prompt: A number is divisible by 6 if it is divisible by both 2 and 3.
You do: independent practice · 10 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Which number is divisible by 6? (3909 / 3910 / 3906 / 3908) → 3906Prompt: A number is divisible by 6 if it is divisible by both 2 and 3.
- 84▢ is divisible by 3. What is the smallest digit ▢ could be? → 0Prompt: The digits so far add to 12.
Watch out for
- Thinking multiplying always makes a number bigger.
- Dropping a zero in long multiplication when moving to the tens row.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Divisibility tests for 2, 5 and 10.
- Use concrete materials: counters for arrays.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-4.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder