B2.2 Recall and demonstrate multiplication facts from 0 × 0 to 12 × 12, and related division facts.

Activity 1: If it Falls Over? (Array)


Directions

Ask students to represent 5 × 8 and 8 × 5 using arrays.

Here are some possible representations:

Proceed in the same way with various multiplications of two numbers.

Prompts

Ask questions to support students in understanding the commutative property of multiplication, such as:

  • What do you see?
  • How many counters are there? rows? columns?
  • If I rotate the array 90°, how many counters are there now?
  • What is the product of 5 and 8? What other multiplication fact resembles this?
  • How could we create a division problem from this multiplication problem? Explain your reasoning.
  • By rotating the arrays, what other pairs of numbers give the same product?
  • How can these arrays help us to solve other multiplication or division problems? How can you demonstrate this?

Source: translated from Guide d'enseignement efficace des mathématiques de la 1re à la 3e année, Numération et sens du nombre, p. 41-42.

Activity 2: Distributive Property and Associative Property


Present the following array to students:

\(8\; \times \;9\; = \;?\)

Ask students questions such as:

  • What are some ways to determine the product of \(8\; \times \;9\) from this array? Explain your reasoning.
  • How can this array help us determine the product? Demonstrate it.
  • What other multiplication situations might the array help us solve? Explain your thinking.