In this 3.OA.1 Third Grade Common Core Lesson, students match multiplication equations to groups of grocery item to build multiplication skills.
This sweet rectangular arrays addition activity has 2nd-3rd grade students match cupcake arrays to equal-addend equations. Cards, a recording sheet and practice page, with an answer key included.
Using this Be the Baker Multiplication Activity, students interpret products of whole numbers into equal groups.
In this 3.OA.3 Third Grade Common Core Lesson, students use multiplication and division strategies within 100 to solve word problems.
In this 3.OA.5 Third Grade Common Core Lesson, students apply properties of operations as strategies to multiply and divide.
Rows and columns make multiplying easy
An array is a set of objects arranged in equal rows and columns. Third graders use arrays to understand multiplication: 3 rows of 4 = 3 × 4 = 12. They see that turning an array sideways gives the same total, which shows the commutative property (3 × 4 = 4 × 3). Arrays also help kids solve word problems and break big facts into smaller ones. The click is when kids look at a carton of eggs and see 2 × 6 right away.
Arrays turn multiplication into something kids can see and build.
Start with equal groups, like 3 plates with 4 cookies, then line up the cookies in rows. Show kids how the same problem looks both ways.
Why it works: handing over the work step by step, from teacher to student, is one of the most widely used teaching frameworks (Pearson and Gallagher, 1983).
Try it with3.OA.1 Third Grade Common Core LessonCommon Core LessonsOpen it →Kids build a 3 × 5 array with tiles, then rotate it 90 degrees and write the new number sentence. Seeing the total stay the same proves the commutative property.
Why it works: going from real objects to pictures to symbols is a core recommendation of the U.S. Department of Education's elementary math guide.
Try it with3.OA.5 Third Grade Common Core LessonCommon Core LessonsOpen it →Give word problems about rows of chairs or trays of muffins, and have kids draw an array before they solve. Drawing first helps kids pick the right operation.
Why it works: mixing different kinds of problems in one practice set helped students do far better on a later test (Rohrer and Taylor, 2007).
Try it with3.OA.3 Third Grade Common Core LessonCommon Core LessonsOpen it →Arrays are hiding everywhere. Kids love finding them.
ActivitiesArrange cookies on trays in rows and columns and multiply to find the total.
Open Be the Baker Multiplication Activity →
ActivitiesSearch the school for arrays: windows, egg cartons, desks. Write the multiplication fact for each.
Open Sweet Rectangular Arrays Addition Activity →Teacher favorites right now: 3.OA.1 Third Grade Common Core Lesson, Sweet Rectangular Arrays Addition Activity and Be the Baker Multiplication Activity.
An array is a group of objects arranged in equal rows and columns. Third graders use arrays to show and solve multiplication problems.
Arrays show multiplication as rows times columns. Kids can count, skip count or multiply to find the total, which builds understanding before memorizing facts.
It means you can multiply in any order and get the same answer. Turning a 3 × 4 array sideways makes a 4 × 3 array with the same 12 objects.
Use muffin tins, ice cube trays or snacks. Ask your child, "How many rows? How many in each row? How many in all?"
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