An apple a day
This is a level 3 number activity from the Figure It Out series. It relates to stage 6 of the number framework. A PDF of the student activity is included.
About this resource
Figure It Out is a series of 80 books published between 1999 and 2009 to support teaching and learning in New Zealand classrooms.
This resource provides the teachers’ notes and answers for one activity from the Figure It Out series. A printable PDF of the student activity can be downloaded from the materials that come with this resource.
Specific learning outcomes:
- Use arrays to solve multiplication facts.
An apple a day
Achievement objectives
NA3-2: Know basic multiplication and division facts.
Required materials
- Figure It Out, Level 2–3, Basic Facts, "An apple a day", page 9
See Materials that come with this resource to download:
- An apple a day activity (.pdf)
Activity
Activity 1 and 2
The array view is probably the most powerful visual model for multiplication. It has important connections to measuring area and volume and to finding possible outcomes in probability.
Given an array, as in the apple tray example, students will demonstrate various strategies for counting the objects. These progress in sophistication:
i. One-by-one counting
ii. Skip counting of rows or columns, for example, 4, 8, 12, …
iii. Equal additions, for example, 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4
iv. Use of multiplication facts, for example, 6 x 4.
The above stages constitute a developmental sequence for students that can help teachers design appropriate interventions. Students at the first stage need experience with stressed and then skip counting, that is, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, … to 3, 6, 9, … Students at the third stage need experience with arrays being masked. For example:
Where students are given instructions to create arrays for a given number of objects, say 24, you can develop the use of pattern by recording their results on a table:
Wide |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
12 |
24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Long |
24 |
12 |
8 |
6 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
Students may notice that a square array can be made only for numbers like 9, 16, and 25.
Activity 1
1.
24
2.
Answers will vary but will be based on addition and multiplication.
3.
Answers will vary, for example, rows of 6 x 6, 4 x 9, or 3 x 12.
Activity 2
1.
Various addition methods, such as 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 21
2.
a. 18
b. 14
c. 15
d. 12
e. 12
f. 9
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