Math lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 45 minutes
Multiplication and division fact families
Multiplication and division
CCSS 3.OA.B.6England: Y3 Multiplication and division
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Multiplication and division fact families.
- 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: Divide by 2, 5 and 10
Leads to: Find the unknown in multiplication and division equations
Materials: Counters for arrays, Multiplication grid, Base-ten blocks, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Divide by 2, 5 and 10). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- 50 ÷ 10 = ? → 5Prompt: 10 times what makes 50?
- __ ÷ 10 = 5 → 50Prompt: Multiplication undoes division.
- 100 ÷ 10 = ? → 10Prompt: 10 times what makes 100?
Hook · 5 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 fact families. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 10 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Which fact belongs in the same family as 2 × 10 = 20?
- Step 1: 2 × 10 = 20, 10 × 2 = 20, 20 ÷ 2 = 10, 20 ÷ 10 = 2
- Step 2: 20 ÷ 2 = 10
- Answer: 20 ÷ 2 = 10
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 10 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Which fact belongs in the same family as 5 × 5 = 25? (25 ÷ 5 = 5 / 25 ÷ 6 = 5 / 5 + 5 = 10 / 25 − 5 = 20) → 25 ÷ 5 = 5Prompt: A fact family uses the same three numbers: 5, 5 and 25.
- Given 12 × 10 = 120, what is 120 ÷ 10? → 12Prompt: Division undoes multiplication.
You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Which fact belongs in the same family as 3 × 3 = 9? (9 ÷ 3 = 3 / 3 + 3 = 6 / 9 − 3 = 6 / 9 ÷ 4 = 3) → 9 ÷ 3 = 3Prompt: A fact family uses the same three numbers: 3, 3 and 9.
- Given 3 × 4 = 12, what is 12 ÷ 4? → 3Prompt: Division undoes multiplication.
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: Divide by 2, 5 and 10.
- 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: Find the unknown in multiplication and division equations.
- 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