If you look close enough you’ll find yourself surrounded by multiplication arrays. An array is made up of horizontal rows and vertical columns. It’s a great, visual way to show multiplication as repeated addition or divisions as equal shares.

For example, the top array shows two rows and three columns. The equations that represent this array are: 3 + 3; 3 x 2; 6/3.

In a multiplication equation, we always say rows first, then columns. If you want to tie in some algebra (the commutative property of multiplication), rotate the array to show that 3 x 2 is the same as 2 x 3.

Go on an ‘array hunt’ and see if your children/students can find arrays in the environment. Have them say the multiplication/division equation that goes with them.

You may even want to take photos of the ones they find and put them in their math journal or turn them into a book. Be sure they write the corresponding equations.

CCSS: 2.OA.4; 3.OA.1; 3.OA.2; 3.OA.3; 3.OA.5; 3.OA.6; 3.MD.7