Recalling Multiplication Facts – A lesson on using arrays…

Summary:

In this lesson, students explore the concept of arrays through an enjoyable game that is played with 2 dice, but can be modified to extend more able students. The teacher has many teaching moments to discuss strategies for multiplication, such as repeated addition, skip-counting, doubling and many more. A great starter for any multiplication lesson.

Australian Curriculum Links:

Year 2:

Recognise and represent multiplication as repeated addition, groups and arrays (ACMNA031)

Year 3:

Recall multiplication facts of two, three, five and ten and related division facts (ACMNA056)

Year 4:

Recall multiplication facts up to 10 × 10 and related division facts (ACMNA075)

WALT:

We are learning to perform multiplication calculations using the numbers from 1 through to 6.

Lesson:

Orientation 5 minutes

Focus: Attention to splat square activity on board.
Engage: Use splat squares http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/splatsquares/splatsq100.html to skip count by 2’s, 5’s and 10’s.
Access: Tell students skip counting will make them better at multiplication. What is multiplication?

Guided Discovery

Demonstrate how to play the Array Game.

http://nzmaths.co.nz/resource/array-game

Exploration

The Array Game: Students play in pairs each has their own 10×10 grid. Each player rolls 2 6-side dice and colours in the area on the grid indicated by the dice. For example, if a player rolls a 2 and a 3 they colour in any 2×3 rectangle. Students write down their multiplication fact (2×3) inside the squares they have blocked. Students play until one player cannot fit an array. The last student to make a full array win.
Students play the game again with the same rules, however this time students write down the multiplication fact (e.g. 2×3) with the answer (6- total number of squares coloured) inside the squares they have blocked.

Individualising

Extend: Play the array game by putting a cost on each square to make it like a farmers land and see who purchases the most land.
Support: Assist student having difficulty playing the array game.

Reflection 5 minutes

Share/Explain/Justify Reflect: Who won in each team? Does placing your blocks horizontally or vertically make a difference? Why/why not?
Consolidate: Do you think arrays are a good way to do multiplication? Why/why not?
Challenge/Extend: Who thinks they can play the Array game on a 1000s grid?