Resource for reinforcing multiplication strategies and introducing division

1. Multiplication/Division mat
demonstration

2. Reinforcing Multiplication
Teacher: I have four plates and each one has two
slices of pizza on it. Thinking about our
multiplication strategies, can anyone tell me which
one I can use to work out how many slices of pizza
I have altogether?
Students: Double, double, double?

3. Teacher: Yes, very good. We can use double,
double, double. So can you count them out with
me using that strategy?
Teacher/Students: Two slices
doubled is four slices…

4. …four slices doubles is eight slices.
Teacher: Yes, so four multiplied by two
is eight.

5. Introducing Division: Partition
Teacher: So what about if I had started with a whole pizza
that has eight slices, and I want to share it with out
amongst my four friends? It has to be even though
because that wouldn’t be fair otherwise!
So if we think of our subtraction strategies, could we
figure it out by counting down in twos?
Students: Maybe
Teacher: Okay, let’s try it together and
see.

6. Teacher/Students: Eight slices, six slices, four
slices…

7. Teacher: So does each plate have the same number of
slices? Is it fair?.
....two slices.
Students: Yes, each plate
has two slices!

8. Introducing Division: Quotition
Teacher: So let’s try another one. This time my pizza
has six slices and I want to share it out evenly with my
friends so that they each got three slices on their
plates. How would I figure out how many plates I
needed?

9. Students: Count down?
Teacher: Could we use a different strategy? Maybe
Use Halves? Lets try it and see. Count down with
me.
Teacher/Students: Six halved is three

10. Teacher: Yes. So I can share my six slices with two
friends.