← Back to course
Number Trail Grade 3 / Week 02 / Monday
1/6
Week 02 · Multiply: equal groups

Monday

Equal groups
// Groups, arrays and stories
⏱ about 15 min

Monday: Equal groups

Chris the Coyote opens his storyteller's satchel on the trail.

"I made 4 little bags of acorns for the squirrels," he says.

"Each bag holds 6 acorns."

Bennie the Bear leans in to look. "Every bag has the same number?"

"Yes," says Chris. "They are equal groups."

Bennie smiles. "Then we can multiply to find how many acorns in all."

Learn it: groups of the same size

Here are Chris's 4 bags. Each bag has 6 acorns.

The bags are equal groups, because each one has 6.

Four equal groups with six dots in each group

We can add: 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 24.

Or we can multiply: 4 × 6 = 24.

4 × 6 means 4 groups of 6.

The first factor tells how many groups.

The second factor tells how many are in each group.

The product, 24, tells how many in all.

WHAT DOES THE PICTURE SHOW?
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Four equal groups with six dots in each groupWhat does the picture show?
Three equal groups with five dots in each groupWhat does the picture show?
Five equal groups with two dots in each groupWhat does the picture show?
Two equal groups with seven dots in each groupWhat does the picture show?
MATCH THE MULTIPLICATION
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Three equal groups with five dots in each groupWhich multiplication matches the picture?
Five equal groups with two dots in each groupWhich multiplication matches the picture?
Six equal groups with three dots in each groupWhich multiplication matches the picture?
Two equal groups with eight dots in each groupWhich multiplication matches the picture?
HOW MANY IN ALL?
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Four equal groups with six dots in each group4 × 6 = ?
Three equal groups with five dots in each group3 × 5 = ?
Six equal groups with three dots in each group6 × 3 = ?
Two equal groups with eight dots in each group2 × 8 = ?
SentenceTrue or false?
6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 4 × 6?
5 + 5 + 5 = 3 × 5?
7 + 7 = 3 × 7?
2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 5 × 2?
WHY THIS EXERCISE7 + 7 is 2 groups of 7. It equals 2 × 7.
FIND 4 × 6 WITH GROUPS
  • Think about Chris's acorn bags.
  • Tap the steps in order.
1First
2Next
3Then
4Last
Try it
Find 3 cups and some small things, like buttons or beans.
Put 5 things in each cup.
Say "3 groups of 5."
Count them all. Then say the multiplication.
On paper, show 3 groups of 4 with circles and dots. Write the multiplication.

Great grouping! Tomorrow we put groups in rows.