A Learning Experience for Multiplication
Grade Level: 3
Subject: Math
Power Standard: Recall basic multiplication facts through 12 x 12.
Prior Knowledge & Skills
- Students must know these terms: addition, repeated addition, addends, sum
- Be able to recall basic addition facts.
- Be able to solve repeated addition problems.
Knowledge & Skills To Be Learned For This Standard
- Students must know these terms: factors, products, multiplication, arrays
- Be able to explain how multiplication is like repeated addition.
- Be able to solve multiplication problems through 12 x 12.
Scenario/Context
Students will work in a variety of settings including whole-group instruction, small group activities, partner activities, and independent activities in order to learn this standard.
Tasks
- In a whole group, the class will review the terms addend, sum, and addition. The teacher will let the class write their own definitions of these terms.
- Students will quiz each other in small groups on addition facts using flash cards. Each time a student gets a problem correct, they will keep the flash card in order to keep track of their progress. During this time, the teacher will work in a small group with students needing additional help with these facts.
- Students will work with a partner to determine a way to demonstrate repeated addition. Each pair of students would be given a different problem. An example would be a pair of students practicing and then demonstrating how they would add 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 using counter chips. Students will show their demonstration to peers and the teacher. Students will write a paragraph explaining the process that they used to complete repeated addition. Struggling students will spend more time with the hands-on activity and not complete the paragraph if necessary.
- In whole group instruction, the class will discuss these terms: factors, products, multiplication, arrays. Together the class will come up with our own definitions of these words based on the discussion. The teacher will demonstrate an example of repeated addition being just like multiplication yet faster. The teacher will use the counter chips for this demonstration.
- Students will work in small groups with different problems to practice demonstrating how they would solve the problem now using multiplication instead of repeated addition. An example would be a group solving 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 by using 3 x 4 = 12. Students will share their demonstration with the teacher and peers. Then they will write a paragraph explaining the process. Struggling students will continue working with the teacher if they are not ready to write the paragraph yet.
- Students will create and label several arrays (picture models of multiplication problems) using various art supplies such as stickers, scissors, glue, construction paper, etc. One example would be 12 stickers placed into 4 groups of 3 in order to show that 4 x 3 = 12.
- Students will create their own flash cards of multiplication problems to begin quizzing themselves and their partners with at school and home.
Complementary Standards:
- Generate strategies to multiply whole numbers by using one single-digit factor and one multi-digit factor.
- Use basic number combinations to compute related multiplication problems that involve multiples of 10.