Today is rung 5 of 10 on this topic
Arrays, doubles and repeated addition
Can do: Sees a 3×4 arrangement as three rows of four, and links it to 4 + 4 + 4.
Why it matters
This is multiplication arriving before it's called that. Children who meet times tables as arrays understand them; children who meet them as chants memorise and forget.
What it looks like when it's wobbly
Counts every object in an array one by one instead of using the rows.
⏱️ Two-minute check
Arrange 12 objects in 3 rows of 4. "How many? How did you work it out?"
Solid looks like: Twelve — by counting rows or adding fours, not by counting all twelve.
The full activity for this topic · 10 minutes
Egg Box Arrays
- 1Build a rectangle of objects: four rows of three.
- 2Count by rows out loud: 3, 6, 9, 12.
- 3Turn it ninety degrees. "Same amount? Why?" That's commutativity, discovered rather than told.
- 4Hunt arrays in the house: windows, tiles, egg boxes, chocolate bars.
- 5Write it as repeated addition, then as 3 × 4, and say both mean the same thing.
If it's too hard
Twos and fives only, which they can already skip count.
If it's too easy
Split a big array into two easier ones: 7 rows of 4 as 5 rows plus 2 rows.
Say this
"Don't count them all. How many in a row? How many rows? Count in rows."