Multiplication With Arrays

Many students in elementary school are SO excited to learn multiplication. Many “claim” to know some facts and think this concept is a breeze! But… do your students really understand the meaning of multiplication? Can they represent the equation in a visual manner? This teaching presentation aims to help your students form a concrete understanding of how to represent a multiplication equation with an array.

With this teaching presentation, students will learn how to

• Sort objects into rows and columns with an equal number in each
• The definition of an array
• Represent the same number with different arrays
• Write the number sentence for a given array 

Through this activity, students will show they can arrange a group of objects into rows and columns to form an array and identify the corresponding multiplication fact.

Tips for Differentiation + Scaffolding 

A team of dedicated, experienced educators created this resource to support your math lessons. 

This teaching presentation can be taught as quickly or as slowly as you need to and adjusted accordingly.

If you have a mixture of above and below-level learners, check out these suggestions for keeping students on track with the concepts: 

🆘 Support Struggling Students

Help students who need help understanding the concepts by providing them with manipulatives such as small erasers, connecting cubes, counters, etc. Students can then use the manipulatives to create arrays as they learn how to connect a multiplication sentence to each model.

➕ Challenge Fast Finishers

Encourage students who need a bit of a challenge to create division equations for each array.

Easily Prepare This Resource for Your Students

Use the Download button to access this resource’s editable Google Slides version. 

This resource was created by Melissa McLaren, a teacher in Massachusetts and Teach Starter Collaborator.

Don’t stop there! We’ve got more activities and resources that cut down on lesson planning time:  

teaching resource

Multiplication Using Arrays Worksheet

Encourage your students to practice multiplication using arrays with this 2-page worksheet that guides them to build arrays and write them as multiplication sentences.

teaching resource

Array Card Kaboom!

Boost your students’ understanding of arrays and multiplication with this engaging Kaboom card game.

teaching resource

Multiplication With Arrays Bingo

Review how arrays and multiplication facts are related with this whole-class Bingo game.