Math lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 60 minutes
Multiply three numbers by regrouping
Multiplication and division
CCSS 3.OA.B.5England: Y4 Multiplication and division
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Multiply three numbers by regrouping.
- 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: Turnaround facts: order does not change a product
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 · 6 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Turnaround facts: order does not change a product). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- 9 × 15 = 135. What is 15 × 9? → 135Prompt: Does changing the order of the numbers change the answer?
- 5 × 38 = 190. What is 38 × 5? → 190Prompt: Does changing the order of the numbers change the answer?
- 12 × 39 = 468. What is 39 × 12? → 468Prompt: Does changing the order of the numbers change the answer?
Hook · 6 min
- Show an array of chairs, eggs or windows and ask how many there are without counting one by one.
- Share the objective: Multiply three numbers by regrouping. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 12 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: 5 × 2 × 5 = ?
- Step 1: 2 × 5 = 10
- Step 2: 5 × 10 = 50
- Answer: 50
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 12 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- 9 × 4 × 5 = ? → 180Prompt: You can multiply any two first.
- (4 × 5) × 2 = 4 × (5 × __). What goes in the gap? → 2Prompt: Regrouping does not change a product.
You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- (5 × 5) × 2 = 5 × (5 × __). What goes in the gap? → 2Prompt: Regrouping does not change a product.
- 8 × 2 × 5 = ? → 80Prompt: You can multiply any two first.
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: Turnaround facts: order does not change a product.
- 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