What does it mean to multiply?

As we begin to understand what it means to multiply, students are exploring multiplication using different math manipulatives. Third grade standards require students to interpret 5 X 7 as the total number of objects in 5 groups of 7 objects each. For example, you could say "There are 5 students and each student has 7 pencils. How many pencils are there?" When using manipulatives, mathematicians in third grade would create 5 groups of 7 OR an array of 5 rows and 7 columns, then count to find 35.

I know this is very different from the way you and I learned how to multiply, but please praise your student on learning what this operation means, rather than just learning the facts. Their deep understanding of what it truly means to multiply will be amazing and I can't wait to see what real world problems they can solve using this understanding!

At this point, please continue to work on and practice addition and subtraction skills at home while we continue to develop an understanding of this new operation in class.

Below are some pictures from one of our first days working with equal groups and arrays!