Arrays

A great way to start exploring multiplication is through arrays. An array is an arrangement of objects that has equal groups in each row and column. For multiplication, this is a great introduction because it shows repeated addition and groups of equal numbers. 

(Above you can see a 4x5 array, which makes it easy to see that the total is 20)

Arrays are also a useful introduction to multiplication because you can find and make arrays nearly anywhere you go! As practice, we looked around our room yesterday to find examples of different arrays. 

As always, explaining your thinking is a key part of learning any mathematical concept: