unting by 6’s or 7’s is difficult for most students. Break up (decompose) the array into smaller sections in which the student can use their multiplication skills. Decomposing into rows or columns of 2’s and 5’s would be a good place to start. This is the distributive property in action – and now the students have 3 strategies for using an array!! This is a great way to use known facts to help with those being learned.Here is a link to Math Coach’s Corner (image credited above) and a great array resource: Multiplication arrays activities from TPT $5.50. Here is my FREE guided teaching activity to help students decompose an array into 2 smaller rectangles. Click HERE for the free blank template.
- Use the online geoboard I described a few posts back to create arrays using geobands. Click here for the link: Online geoboard Click here for the previous post: Geometry websites (blog post)
- Try these freebies: Free array activities from k-5mathteachingresources.com. Here’s a sample.
- Play this game I call “Block-It.” This is a competitive partner game in which students must create arrays on grid paper. Click here for a FREE copy of the directions: Block-It Game Directions
- Relate use of arrays when learning strategies for division and area.
In a future post I will show some ways to use manipulatives and pictures arrays for double digit multiplication problems. Stay tuned!!