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Grade 3 Math · Level 2, Multiplication & Division Foundations

Model Multiplication with Arrays

How the lesson starts: Model Multiplication with Arrays

1. The frog choir

   Hello, superstar! Maestro Moss leads a frog choir. 15 frogs hop onto the stage, all jumbled up. Moss croaks, "Line up in neat rows!" Let's see why rows help.

2. Rows make an array

   Now the frogs stand in rows. A row goes across. There are 3 rows. One row is shaded yellow: it has 5 frogs. So this array shows 3 × 5. Count by rows: 5, 10, 15!

3. Which equation?

   This picture shows 4 rows of 2 frogs. Which equation matches? First count the rows: 4. Then count one row: 2. Rows first, so it's 4 × 2. Watch out: 2 × 2 uses one number twice, and 4 + 2 adds!