Math lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 30 minutes
Multiplication and division word problems
Multiplication and division
CCSS 3.OA.A.3CCSS 3.OA.D.8England: Y3 Multiplication and division
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Multiplication and division word problems.
- 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: Times tables to 12 × 12; Division facts
Leads to: Choose the operation for a word problem
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 (Times tables to 12 × 12; Division facts). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- 8 × 10 = ? → 80Prompt: Is there a fact you already know that is close?
- 99 ÷ 9 = ? → 11Prompt: Think of the multiplication fact.
- __ × 5 = 30 → 6Prompt: Which number in the 5 times table gives 30?
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: Multiplication and division word problems. 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: A small theatre has 4 rows of seats with 5 seats in each row. How many seats are there?
- Step 1: 4 × 5 = 20
- Answer: 20
- 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.
- A small theatre has 7 rows of seats with 12 seats in each row. How many seats are there? → 84Prompt: Equal rows: is this multiplication or division?
- Fatima has 18 photos to put in an album. Each page holds 3 photos. How many pages will Fatima fill? → 6Prompt: How many groups of the page size fit into the total?
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.
- A small theatre has 5 rows of seats with 6 seats in each row. How many seats are there? → 30Prompt: Equal rows: is this multiplication or division?
- Ravi has 21 photos to put in an album. Each page holds 7 photos. How many pages will Ravi fill? → 3Prompt: How many groups of the page size fit into the total?
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: Times tables to 12 × 12.
- 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
- Move on to: Choose the operation for a word problem.
- 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