Math lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 30 minutes
The 8 times table
Multiplication and division
CCSS 3.OA.C.7England: Y3 Multiplication and division
Objective and success criteria
Students will: The 8 times table.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: The 4 times table
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
Materials: Counters for arrays, Multiplication grid, Base-ten blocks, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (The 4 times table). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- 4 × 5 = ? → 20Prompt: Count in 4s, 5 times.
- __ × 4 = 12 → 3Prompt: How many 4s make 12?
- __ × 4 = 36 → 9Prompt: How many 4s make 36?
Hook · 3 min
- Show an array of chairs, eggs or windows and ask how many there are without counting one by one.
- Share the objective: The 8 times table. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 7 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: 8 × 2 = ?
- Step 1: 2 → 4 → 8 → 16
- Step 2: 8 × 2 = 16
- Answer: 16
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 6 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- 8 × 10 = ? → 80Prompt: Count in 8s, 10 times.
- __ × 8 = 64 → 8Prompt: How many 8s make 64?
You do: independent practice · 7 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 3 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- __ × 8 = 72 → 9Prompt: How many 8s make 72?
- 4 × 8 = ? → 32Prompt: Count in 8s, 4 times.
Watch out for
- Thinking multiplying always makes a number bigger.
- Dropping a zero in long multiplication when moving to the tens row.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: The 4 times table.
- Use concrete materials: counters for arrays.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-3.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder