3rd Grade Mathematics — Multiplication and Division — God's Order in Numbers
Students will understand multiplication as repeated addition using equal groups and arrays.
God created the world with order and patterns. When we study multiplication, we discover the beautiful patterns God placed in numbers. Multiplication is a faster way of adding equal groups together.
Imagine God created 3 ponds, and each pond has 4 fish. How many fish are there in all? Instead of adding 4 + 4 + 4, we can multiply: 3 × 4 = 12. Multiplication saves us time!
An array is a way to arrange objects in rows and columns. If you plant a garden with 5 rows and 3 flowers in each row, you have an array of 5 × 3 = 15 flowers. Arrays help us see multiplication.
God's creation is full of arrays. A honeycomb has rows and columns of hexagons. Ears of corn have rows of kernels. Even the stars are arranged in patterns called constellations. God is a God of order!
Use small objects like buttons or cereal pieces to make arrays. Create arrays for 2 × 5, 3 × 4, and 4 × 3. Draw each array on paper and write the multiplication sentence next to it.