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Long Division Year 6

This Long Division Maths lesson for Year 6 teaches your KS2 class how to use the formal long division method. The slideshow presentation for the teaching input breaks down the process into simple steps, working through questions together as a class while they become familiar with the method.

There are then a range of different activities available that challenge your Year 6 children to solve three-digit by two-digit calculations, or four-digit by two-digit calculations if they are secure with the method.

The alternative activity challenges children to mark completed long division calculations to see which have been completed correctly and which haven't.

This long division Year 6 lesson pack contains:

  • a detailed lesson plan with differentiated activities
  • a slideshow for the teaching input
  • a range of printable resources for independent learning activities
  • a set of answer sheets

Long Division Year 6 Lesson Pack

£1.49

Scroll through the pictures for a preview of the lesson's resources:

Long division year 6 slideshow example 2
Long division year 6 slideshow example 3
Long division year 6 slideshow example 4
Long division year 6 slideshow example 5
Long division year 6 slideshow example 6
Long division year 6 slideshow example 7
Long division year 6 worksheet example 1
Long division year 6 worksheet example 1
Long division year 6 worksheet example 3
Long division year 6 worksheet example 4
Long division year 6 lesson plan example 1
Long division year 6 answer sheet example 1

This lesson is part of a five-lesson Maths scheme of work for Year 6 called Difficult Division.

How does the long division method work?

Let's say we wanted to solve the calculation 993 ÷ 12 using the formal long division method. First, you need to set out your calculation so that the dividend (in this case, 993) is underneath the 'bus stop' and the divisor (12) is outside it, like this:

Long division method step 1 12 ÷ 993

We start by looking at the first digit of the dividend. There are no 12s in 9 because 12 is bigger than 9, so we include the next digit along too. In this case, 99. So now we need to work out how many lots of 12 there are in 99:

Long division method step 2 12 ÷ 993

There are 8 lots of 12 in 99 (8x12=96) so we will record the 8 above the 99:

Long division method step 3 12 ÷ 993 12 goes into 99 8 times

We will then write 96 underneath 99 because this is the product of 8x12. Notice how the place value columns align:

Long division method step 4 12 ÷ 993

Now we’re going to take 96 away from 99 using column subtraction which gives us 3: 

Long division method step 5

Our next step is to bring the next digit down to make a two-digit number:

Long division method step 6

Now we’ll work out how many lots of 12 there are in 33. The answer is 2 so we will record this above the bar:

Long division method step 7

We’re going to write 24 under 33 because 2 x 12 = 24:

Long division method step 8

We’re going to take 24 away from 33 now using column subtraction:

Long division method step 9

Because we can’t divide 9 by 12, this is our remainder.

Long division method step 10

This means that the answer is 82 remainder 9.

Once you have cracked the method, you can use it to divide any number by a two-digit number.

Did you know PlanBee has an entire ready-to-teach Maths curriculum for KS1 and KS2 with built-in knowledge and skills progression and meticulous National Curriculum coverage?