Multiplication Lesson Plan

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Abstract

This lesson combines the use of manipulatives with computer technology to teach and reinforce the concept of multiplication.

Standards (NCTM Grades 3-5)

Number and Operations

Understand meanings of operations and how they relate to one another.

• Understand various meanings of multiplication and division;
• Understand the effects of multiplying and dividing whole numbers;

Compute fluently and make reasonable estimates

• Develop fluency with basic number combinations for multiplication and division and use these combinations to mentally compute related problems, such as 30*50;
• Develop fluency in adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing whole numbers;

Student Prerequisites

Technological:

Students must be able to:

• perform basic mouse manipulations such as point, click and drag.
• use a browser such as Netscape for experimenting with the activities.

Teacher Preparation

Have enough blocks for each student to have approximately 100 blocks. The type of block is unimportant.

Students will need:

• access to a browser.
• paper and pencil.

Lesson Outline

1. Focus and Review
Review any pertinent vocabulary and tell the students that today they will be learning how to multiply.


2. Objectives
Students will understand and be able to perform 1 digit * 1 digit multiplication.


3. Teacher Input
• Pass out blocks. (Any little cubic blocks you have access to)
• Instruct the students to place the blocks in 3 piles with 2 blocks in each pile. Have students tell you how many total block they have arranged in piles.
• Repeat this with:
  • 2 piles of 5
  • 6 piles of 1
  • 8 piles of 3
• Inform the students that what they are doing is multiplication.
• Place the students into pairs.
• Hand each pair of students 2 dice

4. Guided Practice
• Demonstrate rolling the dice, writing down the numbers, and multiplying them together by arranging piles of blocks and counting the blocks.
• Have the students do this for at least 10 rolls each.
• Walk around and monitor the students to ensure they are arranging the blocks correctly.
• Demonstrate how to use the Arithmetic Four applet
• When first starting, have the students set the time limit to no time limit.

5. Independent Practice
• Have the students play Arithmetic Four in pairs

6. Closure
• Review what multiplication is. ( 6*7 = 6 piles of 7 blocks = 42)
• Pass out multiplication tables and have the students look for patterns on it for homework.

Extensions and Modifications

• For those students who are not yet ready for multiplication this lesson can be easily changed to an addition/subtraction lesson.
• Students who are more advanced can be challenged in several ways:
  1. You can have them set a shorter time limit for their turn.
  2. You can have them work on their division skills as well as their multiplication skills.
  3. You can have them work with integers instead of just whole numbers.

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