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Method 4: Multiplication through Physical Arrays

What is it? 

Teachers can use physical manipulatives to help students make arrays.

Variation 1  - Physical Manipulatives

Allow students to use muffin tins or egg cartons along with pom-poms, marbles, small erasers, or chunks of paper, etc. to represent arrays. Playdough is also an option.

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Materials:

  • Muffin tins/egg cartons

  • Pom poms

  • Marbles

  • Play dough

  • Small erasers

  • Chunks of paper

  • Bingo daubers

Variation 2 - Blocks

Students can also use base 10 blocks to create equal groups of items which they form into an array.

Materials: manipulatives of your choice

  • Base 10 blocks

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Variation 3 -Paint

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Students can also paint to fill in arrays and solve multiplication problems.

Materials: manipulatives of your choice

  • Base 10 blocks

Why is it Effective?

Great for more tactile learners.

References

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