Bright Idea for Creating Arrays

Welcome to the March Bright Idea Blog Hop hosted by Curls and a Smile.

Creating arrays using everyday objects is a fun way to build on concepts of multiplication strategies. You can use any object to create a fun counting game. This lesson started with the blue grid below, it came from a memory matching game where you had to remove the pieces from. It turned into an entire lesson. You just have to love when you get a bright idea!

One way of teaching arrays is with graphing paper. Write the amount of rows and columns. Then show the repeated addition, and draw the groups of. To further visual what the boxes represent we use our handy new grid with counters. The colored pens bring out each array. These can be cut and stored in a math notebook to be referred to later.

We have tons of legos, believe me when I tell you my six year does not share them. They hang out in boxes similar to the one shown above.  This one was his idea, he found the pieces and helped to create all of the arrays. I love how using legos can be color coordinated to form a bigger multiplication equation. Or can be used to form groups of 2, 4, 6, 8 etc. Its hands on learning that maybe will think about while they play with them later on.

Each time we created a new array we added it to a chart for repeated addition, commutative property, groups of, and showing the array. Later I will make blank ones where they have to fill them in, and glue in the array pieces. For practice they are not glued and they have to add the counters into the chart each time. Searching for other objects we found toy cars,  and soy sauce packets from when we ordered Chinese food last week (we used all the duck sauce). Then we created an array using box tops.

Other Objects for Creating Arrays

K'NEX

Beads

Blocks

Fruit

Cookies

Cereal

Pens

Mini dolls

Action Figures

Scrapbook flowers

Wiggle eyes

and more

That wraps ups our Bright Idea for March, I hope you enjoyed it. For more Bright Ideas, visit the links in this Blog Hop hosted by Curls and a Smile. Choose the grade level/topic that interests you. This Blog Hop is unique as you will only find teaching ideas, no products or printables, just creative ways to make learning fun.

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