It is suggested that the activities be completed in the order listed, as each activity builds on knowledge from the previous activity. Click on the activity title to be taken to the page to add the activity to your Seesaw library.
This introductory activity is intended to both aid students in understanding the need for multiplication and guide them to develop fundamental ideas about multiplication. This activity presents students with several video stories containing basic multiplication problems. Students are guided through solving the problems by movable manipulatives and scaffolded questioning. The activity concludes by having the students create their own story with a multiplication challenge to solve. One of the goals of this activity is to have students see the connection between repeated addition and multiplication. Additionally, although arrays are not formally introduced, the way the moving pieces are arranged lends itself to visualizations that will aid students in connecting to that model.
2) Getting to know the Multiplication Chart and Arrays
In the second activity of the collection, students watch a video on how to use a modified multiplication chart (up to 5 X 5). This modified multiplication chart was chosen to allow students to become proficient before moving on to a larger multiplication chart. Students then explore an interactive multiplication chart at https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/822021328 and answer questions based on what they notice. The concept of arrays is introduced as the corresponding array is shown as students move the cursor over the multiplication chart. This activity concludes with students building corresponding arrays on side-by-side multiplication charts and exploring the commutative property of multiplication questions (2 X 3 and 3 X 2).
This two-player game was suggested by Bruni & Silverman (1976) “as a way to review multiplication facts and to develop an ability to use the distributive principle” (p. 407). In their version, players need several paper arrays, two dice with faces 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and W and a 100-square grid for each player. In The Magnificent Multiplication Collection, this game has been digitalized. Players can share one device and take turns, with the winner being the player who places the array that covers the last spot of the 100-square grid. Alternatively, players can play sitting next to each other, with each player having a device and the winner being the player who covers their 100-square grid first. Players take turns rolling the dice – by starting and stopping the randomized dice video. Players state the product of the numbers on the two dice, and if they are correct, then select the matching array to place on the 100-square grid. For this game, players can choose which array works best – the number on the first dice does not need to be the number that is first in the equation. For example, if the dice show 3 and 4, the player could choose an array of 3 rows of 4 or 4 rows of 3; this emphasizes the commutative property of multiplication. To emphasize the distributive principle, players can also select two or more pieces to create their own array equivalent to the array shown on the dice. For example, if the dice show 3 and 4, students could choose a 1 X 4 and a 2 X 4. This is advantageous towards the end of the game when a 3 X 4 might not fit on the 100s chart.
4) Magnificent Multiplication Arrays - Create Your Own
In this activity, students first watch a video from Math-N-Roll about multiplication and arrays (2020). Next, students use items in the classroom to create their own array, take a picture of it and annotate it with both the repeated addition and the multiplication sentence for that array. Lastly, students post to the class blog and comment on their classmates’ work. To see sample posts of what this might look like, visit https://app.seesaw.me/blog/magnificentmath/#!/.
5) Multiplication - Time to Shine
In this final activity of The Magnificent Multiplication Collection, students showcase all they have learned about multiplication. This is an open-ended activity where students can draw, write, type, and record video or audio to showcase their learning about multiplication. This activity is also added to the class blog so students can comment and respond to each other’s learning.