You’ve got a fresh new class of 3rd graders who are eagerly waiting for you to introduce multiplication, but how do you start? Basic multiplication is a cornerstone of math understanding. It consumes a good chunk of time in the 3rd grade curriculum calendar, and mastering multiplication facts sets students up for greater understanding and success for all the concepts to come. Whether you are introducing multiplication for the first time or just need a mid-year review, this Google Slides digital unit helps students make sense of multiplication while being both fun and effective!
As a comprehensive unit, it comes with anchor charts that teach all the different ways to think about multiplication, drag-and-drop practice activities, and digital worksheets. It allows you to introduce multiplication to your 3rd graders in an engaging, hands-on way using technology.
From understanding multiplication as equal groups to creating uniform arrays, this unit covers all the essential skills. Plus, with an end-of-unit review and assessment included, you’ll have everything you need to help your students build a solid foundation in multiplication while keeping them excited about learning. Let’s walk through each lesson.
Lesson 1: Introduce Multiplication as Equal Groups
As with each lesson, this one starts with a digital anchor chart to explain the concept. This anchor chart will introduce multiplication as equal groups.
Here, the anchor chart will introduce multiplication as equal groups, and students can see how combining equal groups can be represented as a multiplication sentence. While it is ideal to have a teacher available to explain the concept, anchor charts like this one can serve as a substitute when the teacher is unavailable or serve as a thorough review for students as they practice independently.
After an explanation of multiplication as equal, students have the opportunity to practice. The first activity provides students with movable pieces and work space where they can build models to equal groups. Students can click and drag (and even stretch) enough circles to the workspace to represent the groups. Then they will drag and drop shape pieces inside each circle to show how many are in each group.
The second activity features interactive multiplication equations. Students will use their mouse to click and slide digits to complete the multiplication sentence represented by each equal groups picture.
Students will finish up the lesson by completing a digital introduction to multiplication worksheet to show how well they have made meaning of multiplication represented as equal groups.
Lesson 2: Introduce Multiplication as Repeated Addition
Now that students understand that 5 groups of 3 equals 15, you’re ready to introduce multiplication as repeated addition. Repeated addition is really the same thing as equal groups, students are just replacing the concrete visuals of groups and thinking about it as an addition sentence. They can still use bar diagrams to represent these equations.
Lesson 2 starts with an anchor chart introducing multiplication as repeated addition and walks students through the steps. Next, students get to practice with two activities.
The first activity slide will guide students as they write repeated addition sentences that match multiplication equations, use drag and drop pieces to build repeated addition bar diagrams, and then use their models for multiplication to find the product.
In the second activity, students get to really show off how well they understand that there are different ways to represent the same multiplication equation as they drag diagrams, addition sentences, and multiplication sentences around the page to sort and match the ones with equal values.
Students, again, have the opportunity to show what they have learned using a digital worksheet for multiplication as repeated addition.
Lesson 3: Introduce Multiplication as Skips on a Number Line
Now that students have gotten comfortable thinking about multiplication as groups of and adding the same number over and over, it’s time to introduce multiplication as skips on a number line. Students have been skip counting since kindergarten, so it just takes a little guidance to see what skip counting looks like on an open number line and how that is another way to represent multiplication.
Students will continue the same routine as the previous lessons. They will start with an anchor chart to introduce multiplication as hops on a number line and practice with interactive slides.
On the first practice slide, students will drag arches onto the number lines below and fill in the missing numbers to label the number lines. Once their models are complete, students can use them to find the product of the multiplication sentence.
For the What’s the Problem activity, students will drag and drop the matching multiplication problem represented by each number line, and then complete the problem by finding the product.
Lastly, students will wrap up the lesson with a digital worksheet for multiplication using a number line.
Lesson 4: Introduce Multiplication as Arrays
The final way to introduce multiplication is by using arrays. Arrays are a great way to wrap it all up, because it is easy for students to see equal groups by looking at each row and see repeated addition when they add the rows together. There’s nothing quite like a neat and organized array to bring closure to this introduction to multiplication.
The anchor chart to introduce multiplication as arrays provides models and explanations to help students create a deep understanding of what multiplication really means.
Up next, students get to apply what they just learned by creating arrays of their own. Students can choose from an assortment of circle counters as they drag and drop them into place to create their own arrays (SIDENOTE: This is also a great opportunity to show students how to use the Arrange > Align menu tools in Google Slides to keep their models neat and tidy.)
Then, students will finish up their interactive practice by matching the multiplication equation to the array that represents it. They will also finish the equation by finding the product using the array to help them, of course.
A digital worksheet for multiplication as arrays will be Lesson 4 to a close.
Lesson 5: Review and Assess
Now that students have learned the 4 different ways to think about multiplication, it is time to review it all and do an assessment. To review, they will be asked to model a multiplication problem using all 4 methods. This unit includes four different review slides, so you can pick and choose the one you want or use all four to really make sure these multiplication concepts have taken root.
Finally, a digital assessment will give you a snapshot of how well students understood the basics of multiplication before you move on to strategies for memorizing the facts and creating fact fluency.
Of course, an answer key is included for all the activities and worksheets to make it easy for teachers and homeschooling parents to use.
This digital introduction to multiplication unit is a welcome change of pace for teaching 3rd graders how to understand and work with multiplication models. The combination of lessons, interactive drag-and-drop activities, and an end-of-unit assessment ensures that your students are not only practicing but also mastering these critical mathematical understandings. You can find this introduction to multiplication unit and all my other digital units in my TPT store.
Whether you’re teaching in the classroom or assigning work digitally, this unit provides everything you need to introduce multiplication both effectively and with a dose of fun. Ready to take your students’ multiplication knowledge to the next level? Download the unit today and see their confidence soar as they become place value pros!
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Looking for more math ideas for your classroom? Check out one of these articles:
Ditch the Timed Test! Alternative Ideas for Assessing Multiplication Facts
Area Models for Multiplication: What Works for My Students
How to Teach Using Arrays to Find Factors: Upper Elementary Math Tips