Decomposing Arrays

In our multiplication unit, students have been using an array model to help them visualize the organization of things in equal rows. We worked on finding the total number of squares (or area) in an array.  The following is the work that students completed during the math workshop.

An array is a model for multiplication (and eventually division too). The goal is for kids to transfer this thinking to multiplication equations using mental math, without an array present. For example, a student might solve 8x6 as (4x6) + (4x6) or (8x3) + (8x3). They will learn to record it as 2(4x6) and 2(8x3).