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Maths Adventures

Dinosaur maths quest: division

A story-led junior maths adventure using fossils, footprints and giant timelines to share rewards fairly and split teams into equal groups.

Quick answer

Division is sharing equally or splitting into equal groups. In a Dinosaur maths quest, you might need to split 12 dinosaur footprints evenly between 3 teams, or share 24 fossils equally among 4 diggers.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to share things equally and split groups fairly using division – just like a dinosaur explorer! Success signs:
  • You can split 10 items into 2 equal groups
  • You know that 12 ÷ 3 = 4
  • You can solve a problem like "I have 18 dinosaur eggs and 3 nests – how many eggs go in each nest?"
  • You understand that sharing means dividing

Why this matters

Division helps you share things fairly – whether you're splitting up dinosaur fossils, sharing snacks with friends, or splitting teams for a football game. It's like being a fair leader in a dinosaur dig team! In games and sports, you often need to divide things:
  • Splitting 20 coins among 4 players
  • Sharing 36 pizza slices among 6 friends
  • Dividing 48 dinosaur bones between 8 diggers
Division is also important for understanding bigger maths later, like fractions and multiplication. It helps you think about how things can be shared and shared again.

How it works

Division means sharing or splitting into equal parts. It's the opposite of multiplication. Here's how to think about it:
  1. Start with a total – how many things you have
  2. Decide how many groups – how many people or teams you are sharing with
  3. Share equally – give the same amount to each group
  4. Count how much each group gets – that's your answer
You can use objects, drawings, or even your fingers to help you divide. For example, if you have 8 dinosaur eggs and 2 diggers, you can split them into 2 groups of 4.

Examples you can see

Let's imagine you are on a Dinosaur maths quest and find 12 dinosaur footprints. You need to split them evenly between 3 teams. How many footprints does each team get? Step-by-step:
  1. You have 12 footprints
  2. You need to split them between 3 teams
  3. Share them equally: 4 footprints to each team
  4. So 12 ÷ 3 = 4
Another example: You found 20 dinosaur bones and want to share them among 5 diggers. How many bones does each digger get?
  1. 20 bones to share
  2. 5 diggers
  3. Each digger gets 4 bones
  4. So 20 ÷ 5 = 4
Draw it out: You can draw 12 dinosaurs and then draw 3 circles around them to show 3 teams. Count how many dinosaurs are in each circle. Real-world example: At a dinosaur party, you have 24 dinosaur-shaped biscuits and 6 friends. How many biscuits can each friend get?
  1. 24 biscuits
  2. 6 friends
  3. Each friend gets 4 biscuits
  4. 24 ÷ 6 = 4

Try it as a mini adventure

Dinosaur Dig Team Challenge! You are on a Dinosaur maths quest and have discovered a fossil site. You found 24 dinosaur bones and need to split them evenly among 4 teams. Each team will get a bag of bones.
  1. First time: Count how many bones you have – 24 bones
  2. Second time: Decide how many teams you are sharing with – 4 teams
  3. Third time: Share the bones equally between the teams
  4. Fourth time: Count how many bones each team gets – ? bones each
Challenge: You found 30 dinosaur eggs and need to put them into 6 nests. How many eggs go in each nest?
  1. 30 eggs
  2. 6 nests
  3. Each nest gets ? eggs
  4. 30 ÷ 6 = ?

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Thinking 10 ÷ 2 = 5, but then saying "I have 5 eggs and 2 teams, so 5 ÷ 2 = 2.5"
    Why it happens: Confusing the division with the sharing process.
    Fix: Remember that division means sharing equally. 10 eggs shared between 2 teams = 5 eggs each.
  • Mistake: Trying to divide by 0
    Why it happens: Not understanding that you can't split something into 0 groups.
    Fix: Remember that anything divided by 0 is not possible – you can't share things with 0 people!
  • Mistake: Forgetting to check if your answer is fair
    Why it happens: Not thinking about whether each group gets the same amount.
    Fix: Double-check by adding up your answers to make sure they match the total.

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help children understand division by:
  • Using everyday items like fruit or toys to share
  • Asking questions like "If you have 12 cookies and 3 friends, how many cookies does each friend get?"
  • Encouraging children to draw pictures or use objects to solve problems
  • Practicing division with small numbers first
  • Reinforcing that division is about sharing equally
Five-minute tips:
  1. Ask your child to share 10 sweets between 2 people
  2. Use a small number like 8 ÷ 2 = 4
  3. Let them draw or use counters
  4. Ask them to explain how they solved it
  5. Give praise for trying and thinking!
What not to worry about:
  • Children might make mistakes – that's part of learning
  • They might not know all the facts yet – that's okay
  • They might need to count or draw – that's helpful

Practice questions

  1. 12 ÷ 3 = ?
  2. 18 ÷ 6 = ?
  3. 20 ÷ 4 = ?
  4. 24 ÷ 8 = ?
  5. 15 ÷ 5 = ?
  6. 25 ÷ 5 = ?
  7. 16 ÷ 4 = ?
  8. 30 ÷ 6 = ?
  9. 14 ÷ 2 = ?
  10. 21 ÷ 3 = ?
Answers:
  1. 4
  2. 3
  3. 5
  4. 3
  5. 3
  6. 5
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 7
  10. 7

FAQ

What is division in simple words?

Division is sharing or splitting things into equal groups.

Why do we need to learn division?

Division helps us share things fairly, like splitting snacks, dividing teams, or sharing rewards. It's useful in games, sports, and everyday life.

How can I practice division at home?

You can use toys, food, or counters to practice sharing equally. Try asking questions like "If you have 10 stickers and 2 friends, how many stickers does each friend get?"

What is the opposite of division?

The opposite of division is multiplication. For example, 12 ÷ 3 = 4 and 4 × 3 = 12.

Can you divide by zero?

No, you cannot divide by zero. It's not possible to split things into zero groups.