Acorn Adventure: Discovering Multiplication!

Mathematics Grades 4th Grade 3:13 Video
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Lesson Description

Learn the basics of multiplication through equal groups and skip counting with a fun acorn collecting story! Understand that multiplication is just a quick way to add the same number multiple times.

Video Resource

Introduction to multiplication

Khan Academy

Duration: 3:13
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Multiplication as repeated addition
  • Equal groups
  • The 'times' symbol (x)

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to define multiplication as repeated addition.
  • Students will be able to represent multiplication problems using equal groups.
  • Students will be able to use the 'times' symbol (x) to write multiplication equations.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students if they have ever collected anything in groups. Introduce the squirrel friend from the Khan Academy video and explain that he collects 3 acorns every day. Show the video (Introduction to Multiplication by Khan Academy).
  • Exploring Equal Groups (10 mins)
    Draw groups of objects on the board (e.g., circles, stars, triangles) and ask students to identify the number of groups and the number of objects in each group. For example, draw 3 groups of 4 circles. Guide them to express this as "3 groups of 4 circles".
  • Multiplication as Repeated Addition (10 mins)
    Explain that multiplication is just a quick way to add the same number over and over. Using the acorn example, show how 5 groups of 3 acorns can be written as 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 3. Then, introduce the 'times' symbol (x) and show how this can also be written as 5 x 3.
  • Practice Problems (10 mins)
    Present students with simple multiplication word problems. For example: 1. A baker makes 4 trays of cookies. Each tray has 6 cookies. How many cookies does the baker make in all? 2. A farmer plants 2 rows of apple trees. Each row has 8 trees. How many apple trees are there in total? Have students solve the problems by drawing equal groups, writing the repeated addition equation, and writing the multiplication equation.
  • Wrap-up (5 mins)
    Review the key concepts of multiplication as repeated addition and equal groups. Remind students that multiplication is a helpful tool for quickly solving problems involving equal groups.

Interactive Exercises

  • Drawing Equal Groups
    Give each student a worksheet with multiplication problems (e.g., 2 x 5, 4 x 3). Have them draw equal groups to represent each problem and solve it.
  • Skip Counting Challenge
    Have students practice skip counting by different numbers (2s, 3s, 4s, 5s) to reinforce the connection between skip counting and multiplication.

Discussion Questions

  • Can you think of real-life examples where you use equal groups?
  • How is multiplication similar to addition?
  • How can skip counting help you with multiplication?

Skills Developed

  • Understanding multiplication as repeated addition
  • Visualizing multiplication through equal groups
  • Problem-solving with multiplication

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

What does 'multiplication' mean?

Correct Answer: Repeated addition of the same number.

Question 2:

Which of these shows 3 groups of 5?

Correct Answer: 5 + 5 + 5

Question 3:

What is another way to write 4 x 2?

Correct Answer: 2 + 2 + 2 + 2

Question 4:

If you have 2 groups of 7 apples, how many apples do you have in total?

Correct Answer: 14

Question 5:

The 'x' symbol in math means:

Correct Answer: Multiply

Question 6:

Which equation matches the following: 6+6+6+6

Correct Answer: 4 x 6

Question 7:

What does 'equal groups' mean in multiplication?

Correct Answer: Groups with the same number of objects.

Question 8:

A flower has 5 petals. You have 3 flowers. How many petals are there in total?

Correct Answer: 15

Question 9:

Which of the following is not an example of multiplication?

Correct Answer: Counting backwards from a number.

Question 10:

Which model accurately shows 2 x 4?

Correct Answer: 2+2+2+2

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

Multiplication is a quick way to do repeated _________.

Correct Answer: addition

Question 2:

The symbol 'x' in math means _________.

Correct Answer: multiply

Question 3:

When we multiply, we are finding the total in _________ groups.

Correct Answer: equal

Question 4:

3 x 4 is the same as adding 3 four _________.

Correct Answer: times

Question 5:

2 groups of 6 is the same as 2 _________ 6.

Correct Answer: times

Question 6:

If you have 5 groups of 2, you have a total of _________.

Correct Answer: 10

Question 7:

Skip counting can help you solve _________ problems.

Correct Answer: multiplication

Question 8:

The answer to a multiplication problem is called the _________.

Correct Answer: product

Question 9:

Adding the same number again and again is called _________ addition.

Correct Answer: repeated

Question 10:

If you want to find how many acorns a squirrel has after 7 days of collecting 3 acorns a day, you can multiply 7 _________ 3.

Correct Answer: times

Educational Standards

4.N.2.1:Demonstrate fluency with multiplication and division facts with factors up to 12. 4.N.2.2:Multiply 3-digit by 1-digit and 2-digit by 2-digit whole numbers, using various strategies, including but not limited to standard algorithms. 4.A.1.1:Create an input/output chart or table to represent or extend a numerical pattern.

Teaching Materials

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