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Arrays hooray

In this unit, students are given the opportunity to explore multiplication concepts using arrays. The use of multiple strategies and the sharing of strategies are encouraged in group and whole class situations.

A swirling pattern of colourful koru.

Tags

  • AudienceKaiako
  • Curriculum Level2
  • Education SectorPrimary
  • Learning AreaMathematics and Statistics
  • Resource LanguageEnglish
  • Resource typeActivity
  • SeriesUnits of work
  • Teaching StrategyMixed

About this resource

Specific learning outcomes:

  • Solve multiplication problems by using skip counting or additive strategies.
  • Interpret and solve multiplication story problems.
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Arrays hooray

Achievement objectives

NA2-1: Use simple additive strategies with whole numbers and fractions.
NA2-2: Know forward and backward counting sequences with whole numbers to at least 1000.

Description of mathematics

In this unit, the students use arrays to solve multiplication problems. Arrays are an arrangement of objects in rows and columns. For example, chocolate blocks are made up of an array of smaller pieces. The block below has two rows and five columns.

A chocolate block with two rows of five pieces.

Orchards’ layouts are also arrays, where the fruit trees are grown in rows and columns to make them easier to look after and easier to pick fruit from.

Arrays are strongly advocated by researchers in mathematics education because they model the binary (two factors) nature of multiplication. Therefore, this unit can be used as an introduction to multiplication. The number of rows and columns gives the factors by which the total number can be found, e.g., 2 x 5 or 5 x 2 for the chocolate block above. Arrays are also used extensively in the measurement of area, in finding all outcomes of a probability situation (Cartesian product), in grid systems on maps, and in spreadsheets and other digital tools. Recognising the multiplicative structure of arrays can be challenging for students, especially those who have little experience with equal sets.

Estimation is also an important component of this unit. Students are encouraged to use their number knowledge to anticipate approximate products when given two factors.

Opportunities for adaptation and differentiation

This unit can be differentiated by varying the scaffolding provided or altering the difficulty of the tasks to make the learning opportunities accessible to a range of learners. For example:

  • supporting students to solve problems by counting, if that is their most sophisticated strategy. Encourage the use of skip-counting where possible
  • modelling the effective use of the arrays on Arrays hooray 3 and Arrays hooray 4, showing students how to partition the arrays using known number facts
  • allowing students to use counters or other materials to create arrays
  • reducing the numbers in the problems so that students are working with smaller arrays.

The contexts in this unit can be adapted to recognise diversity and student interests in order to encourage engagement. For example:

  • lines of students in kapa haka groups, groups of people travelling in a bus or van, or planting seedlings in rows can be used as alternative contexts for arrays.
  • te reo Māori kupu that could be introduced within these sessions include row (kapa) and column (tīwai), as well as words related to the fruits grown in the orchard problems and the numbers tahi (1) to rua tekau (20).

Consider how these contexts could provide links to other areas of current learning (e.g., about community gardens, school trips, or planting out the school garden).

Required resource materials

  • large pieces of paper for recording
  • scissors
  • counters and cubes

See Materials that come with this resource to download:

  • Arrays hooray 1 (.pdf, .pptx)
  • Arrays hooray 2 (.pdf, .pptx) (made into cards for group station work)
  • Arrays hooray 3 (.pdf, .pptx)
  • Arrays hooray 4 (.pdf)
  • Arrays hooray 5 (.pdf)

Activity

This series of lessons provides different contexts to explore multiplication concepts using arrays such as the one below. This array has 5 rows and 10 columns.

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1.

We begin the week with the Orchard Problem. A picture book about gardens, such as Nana's Veggie Garden - Te Māra Kai a Kui by Marie Munro, could be used to ignite interest in this context.

  • Jack the apple tree grower has to prune his apple trees in the Autumn. He has 6 rows of apple trees, and in every row there are 6 trees. How many apple trees does Jack have to prune altogether?
An array of apple trees arranged in 6 rows and 6 columns.

The start of (Arrays hooray 1) shows the whole array. Show the complete array. Ask your students to open their eyes and take a mind picture of what they see. Click once to remove all the trees and ask your students to draw what their mind picture looks like. One child could draw their picture on the whiteboard. This could then be referred back to throughout the rest of the lesson.

Look to see if they attend to the rows and columns layout even if the numbers of trees have errors. Discuss the layout.

1.

Have a pile of counters in the middle of the mat. Ask a volunteer to come and show what the first row of trees might look like. Or get 6 individuals to come forward and act like trees and organise themselves into what they think a row is.
Alternatively, click again in Arrays hooray 1 so it’s easy for all to see what the first row of apple trees will look like. Ask your students to improve their picture if they can.

  • What will the second row look like? 

It’s important for students to understand what a row is so they can make sense of the problem. It is also important for them to notice that all rows have the same number of trees.

2.

Arrange the class into small mixed-ability groups with 3 or 4 students in each. Give each group a large sheet of paper. Ask them to fold their piece of paper so it makes 4 boxes (fold in half one way and then in half the other way).

3.

Allow some time for each group to see if they can come up with different ways to solve the Orchard Problem and record their methods in the four boxes. Tell them that you are looking for efficient strategies—those that take the least work.
Allow students to use equipment if they think it will help them solve the problem.
Rove around the class and challenge their thinking with questions like:

  • How could you count the trees in groups rather than one at a time?
  • What facts do you know that might help you?
  • What sets of numbers do you know that might help you?
  • What is the most efficient way of working out the total number of trees?

4.

 Ask the groups to cut up the 4 boxes on their large sheet of paper and then come to the mat. Gather the class in a circle and ask the groups to share what they think is their most interesting strategy. Place each group’s strategy in the middle of the circle as it is being shared. Once each group has contributed, ask the students to offer strategies that no one has shared yet. 

5.

Likely strategies

Possible teacher responses

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 …. Tahi, rua, toru, whā, rima, ono, whitu, waru, iwa, tekau, tekau mā tahi …

  • Can you think of a more efficient way to work out how many trees there are?
  • How many trees are there in one row?

6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36

  • Do you know what 6 + 6 =? Or 3 + 3 = ? 
  • Can that knowledge help you solve this problem more efficiently?

6 x 6 = 36

  • What if Jake had 6 rows of trees and there were 7 trees in each row?

6 + 6 = 12; 12 + 12 = 24; 24 + 12 = 36

  • You used addition to work that out. 
  • Do you know any multiplication facts that could help?

2 x 6 = 12;

12 + 12 + 12 = 36

  • If 2 x 6 = 12, what does 4 x 6 =? 
  • How could you work out 6 x 6 from this?

3 x 6 = 18 and then doubled it

  • That is very efficient. Could you work out 9 rows of 6 for me using 6 x 6 = 36?

5 x 6 = 30; and 6 more = 36

The shared strategies can be put into similar groups.

  • Who used a strategy like this one?

6.

Show students (Arrays hooray 2). This PowerPoint encourages students to disembed a given smaller array of trees from within a larger array. They are also asked to use their knowledge of the smaller array to work out the total number of trees in the larger array. This is a significant ability for finding the totals of arrays using the distributive property of multiplication.

7.

Provide your students with (Arrays hooray 1). The challenge is to find the total number of trees in each orchard. Challenge your students to find efficient strategies that do not involve counting by ones.

8.

As a class, share the different ways that students used to solve the Orchard Problems. You might model on the Arrays hooray 1 to show how various students partitioned the arrays.

The picture book Hooray! Arrays! by Jason Powe could be used to ignite interest in this learning. In the next two sessions, students work in pairs or groups of three to solve the problems on Arrays hooray 2. Consider choosing these pairs to encourage tuakana teina through the pairing of more knowledgeable and less knowledgeable students. Enlarge the problem cards and place them at each station. Provide students with access to copies of Arrays hooray 3 and Array hooray 4. Arrays students can draw on and physical equipment such as counters, cubes, and the Slavonic Abacus.

Read the problems from Arrays hooray 2 to the class one at a time to clarify the wording. You may need to revisit the meaning of rows and columns by creating simple examples.
As students work on a station activity, ask them to create a record of their thinking and solutions. The record might be a recording sheet or in their workbook. Note that Part 2 of each problem is open and requires a longer period of investigation.

As the students work, watch for the following:

  • Can they interpret the problem wording either as a physical representation or as symbolic equations?
  • Do they create arrays of equal rows and columns?
  • Are they able to use skip counting, additive, or multiplicative strategies to find the total number of trees?
  • Do they begin to see the properties of whole numbers under multiplication? (For example, Apple Orchard Part 2 deals with the commutative property.)

At times during both sessions, you might bring the class together to discuss confusions or misconceptions, clarify language, and share efficient strategies and ways of representing the problems.

Below are specific details related to each problem set.

Orange Orchard

Orange Orchard (Part 1) involves 6 x 8 (or 8 x 6). Students might use their knowledge of 6 x 6 = 36 and add on 12 more (two columns of six). That would indicate a strong understanding of the multiplicative structure of arrays.

Most students will use strategies that involve visualising the array and partitioning it into manageable chunks (dis-embedding). For example, they might split rows of eight into two fours (6 x 8 = 6 x 4 + 6 x 4), or into fives and threes (6 x 8 = 6 x 5 + 6 x 3). Other students will use less sophisticated strategies, such as counting in twos and fives, or a combination of skip counting and counting by ones.

Part 2 is an open task that requires students to identify the factor pairs of 24.

Encourage capable students to be systematic in finding all the possibilities (1 x 24, 2 x 12, 3 x 8, 4 x 6).

Orange Orchard (Part 1) Orange Orchard (Part 2)
  • Tame has an orange orchard with 6 rows of trees.
  • In each row, there are 8 trees. 
  • How many trees does Tame have altogether?
  • Your prediction:
  • Your answer:
  • Tame wants to plant another orchard with oranges. 
  • He gets 24 trees. 
  • Find different ways Tame can plant 24 trees in rows and columns. 
  • Show all the different ways.

 

Kiwifruit Orchard

Part 1 requires students to coordinate three factors, as the problem can be written as 3 x (4 x 5). Multiplication is a binary operation, so only two factors can be multiplied at once. Do your students recognise the structure of a single orchard (4 x 5) and realise that the total consists of three arrays of that size?

Similarly, in Part 2 students must restructure 36 plants into two sets. Do they partition 36 into two numbers, preferably those that have many factors? The problem does not say that the two orchards must contain the same number of plants, though 18 and 18 is a nice first solution. Once the two sets of plants are formed, can your students find appropriate numbers of rows and columns that equal the parts of 36?

Kiwifruit Orchard (Part 1) Kiwifruit Orchard (Part 2)
  • Lana has three kiwifruit orchards that are the same. 
  • In each orchard, she has 5 kiwi fruit plants in every row.
  • There are 4 rows.
  • How many kiwi fruit plants does Lana have altogether?
  • Your prediction:
  • Your answer:
  • Lana’s son, Bruce, buys 36 plants to start two Kiwi fruit orchards. 
  • How can Bruce arrange the plants into rows and columns?
  • Show different ways.
  • Remember that he must share the 36 plants between two orchards.

 

Strawberry Patch

Part 1 is a single array (5 x 12). Students might use the distributive property and solve the problem or 5 x 10 + 5 x 2 (partitioning 12) or 5 x 6 + 5 x 6. Some may re-unitise two fives as ten to create 6 x 10. These strategies are strongly multiplicative. Most students will use smaller units such as fives or twos and apply a combination of repeated addition (5 + 5 = 10, 10 + 10 = 20, etc.) or skip counting (2, 4, 6, 8, …).

Part 2 is about factors that have the same product (24). This gives students a chance to recognise that some numbers have many factors, and the expressions of those factors have patterns. For example, 6 x 4 and 3 x 8 are related by doubling and halving. The logic behind the relationship may be accessible to some students. If the rows are halved in length, then twice as many rows can be made with the same number of plants.

Strawberry Patch (Part 1) Strawberry Patch (Part 2)
  • Hera has a strawberry patch. 
  • There are 5 rows with 12 strawberry plants in each row. 
  • How many strawberry plants does Hera have altogether?
  • Your prediction:
  • Your answer:
  • Sam, Kim and Toni also have strawberry patches.
  • Sam has 6 rows with 4 plants in each row.
  • Kim has 3 rows with 8 plants in each row.
  • Toni has 2 rows with 12 plants in each row.
  • Who has the most strawberry plants, Sam, Kim or Toni?

 

Apple Orchard

Part 1 gives students a chance to ‘discover’ the commutative property, the order of factors does not affect the product. In this case, 5 x 10 = 10 x 5.

Part 2 applies the distributive property of multiplication, though many students will physically solve the problem with objects. Look for students to notice that 12 extra trees shared among six rows result in two extra trees per row. So, the number of rows stays the same, but the rows increase in length to six trees. Similarly, if more rows are made, the 12 trees are formed into three rows of four. The number of rows would then be 9. 6 x 6 and 9 x 4 are the possible options.

Apple Orchard (Part 1) Apple Orchard (Part 2)
  • Fatu’s apple orchard has ten trees in each row. There are five rows.
  • Min’s apple orchard has 5 trees in each row. There are ten rows.
  • Who has more apple trees, Fatu or Min?
  • Your prediction:
  • Your answer:
  • Besma has six rows of apple trees.
  • Each row has four trees.
  • If she plants 12 more trees, how many rows might she have then.
  • How many trees will Besma have in each row?
  • There are two answers.
  • Show both answers.

Sessions 4 and 5 give students an opportunity to recognise the application of arrays in other contexts.

The chocolate block problem involves visualising the total number of pieces in a block even though the wrapping is only partially removed. Arrays hooray 3 provides some examples of partially revealed chocolate blocks. For each block ask:

  • How many pieces are in this block?
  • How do you know?

Look for students to apply two types of strategies, both of which are important in measurement:

Iteration: That is when they take one column or row and see how many times it maps into the whole block.

Partitioning: That is when they imagine the lines that cut up the block, particularly halving lines. They look to find a partitioning that fits the row or column that is given.

Arrays hooray 5 provides students with further examples of visualising the masked array.

The Kapa Haka problem is designed around the array structure of seating arrangements for Kapa Haka performances at school.

Begin by role-playing the Kapa Haka problem. Use chairs to make a simulated arrangement of seats. You might like to include grid references used to locate specific seats.

16 chairs arranged in two rows of 8.

Try questions like:

  • How many rows are there?
  • How many columns are there?
  • How many audience members could be seated together?
  • If the performance needed 24 seats, what could they do?

Use different arrangements of columns and rows.

Give the students counters, cubes, or square grid paper to design possible seat layouts with 40 seats. Encourage them to be systematic and to look for patterns in the arrangements. Some students will find efficient ways to record the arrangements, such as:

2 rows of 20 seats                4 rows of 10 seats                5 rows of 8 seats

Record these possibilities as multiplication expressions on rectangles of card. Put pairs of cards together to see if students notice patterns like doubling and halving.

Rectangular cards used to record multiplication expressions (2 x 20, 4 x 10, 5 x 8, 4 x 10).

It is important to also note what length rows do not work.

  • Could we make rows of 11 sets?
  • 9 seats?
  • Why not? (40 is not divisible by 11 or 9 as there would be remaining seats left over.)

If students show competence with finding factors, you could challenge them to find seating arrangements with a prime number of seats, such as 17 or 23. They should find that only one arrangement works; 1 x 17 and 1 x 23 respectively.

Reflecting

As a final task for the unit, ask the students to make up their own array-based multiplication problems for their partner to solve.

1.

Tell the students that they are to pretend to be kūmara growers. They decide how many rows of kūmara plants they want in each row and how many rows they will have altogether. As part of this learning, you could look into how early Maori people grew kūmara. This plant arrived in New Zealand with Polynesian settlers in the 13th Century. However, the climate here was much colder than in the Polynesian islands. As a result, the kūmara had to be stored until the weather was warm enough for it to grow. The kūmara plant became even more important once settlers discovered that some of their other food plants would not grow at all in New Zealand’s climate. These kūmara were different from the ones we eat today, which came to us from North America. The books Haumia and his Kumara: A Story of Manukau by Ron Bacon and Kumara Mash Forever by Calico McClintock could be used to engage students in this context.

2.

Then they challenge their partner to see if the partner can work out how many kūmara plants they will have altogether.

3.

Tell the students to create a record of their problem with the solution on the back. The problems could be made into a book, and other students could write other solution strategies on the back of each problem page.

4.

Conclude the session by talking about the types of problems we have explored and solved over the week. Tell them that the problems were based on arrays. Let them know that there are many ways of solving these problems, but tough multiplication is the most efficient method. Ask students where else in daily life they might find arrays.

Home link

Dear parents and whānau,

This week we have been looking at arrays in class. Arrays have rows and columns like orchards. We have found it easy to figure out the number of things that are in arrays.

Ask your child to find some arrays in your home or neighbourhood. These could include a supermarket car park, an orchard, an egg box, or the bus seats. Use these arrays to count the number of things in them. You can also help your child draw a sketch of the arrays, showing the columns and rows.

Related resources

Figure it Out links

Some links from the Figure It Out series which you may find useful are:

  • Level 2-3, Number, High Flyers, p. 14.
  • Level 2, Number, Book One, Cooking Up a Storm, p. 20.
  • Level 2, Number, Book Two: It’s a Magic Mishmash, p. 6; To Market, to Market, p. 16; The Dinosaur Dig, p.19.
  • Levels 2-3, Multiplicative Thinking: Sushi Surgery, pages 8-9; Fiordland Holiday, pp. 16-17.
  • Link, Number, Book One, Fives and Tens, p. 4.
  • Link, Number, Book Two: Table Tricks, page 2; Planting with the Whānau, p. 6.

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