Maths Recovery » Multiplication and Division

Multiplication and Division

Children’s initial ideas of multiplication are linked to combining a number of groups, each of which contain an equal number of items. This situation is referred to as repeated equal groups.
Children’s initial ideas of division are linked to sharing a collection of items into equal groups.
Children should be provided with experiences involving making equal groups and sharing a given number of items into a specified number of groups.
Activities can involve everyday materials and situations.
Multiplication and division begins with simple notions or equal groups and sharing.
Children need experience of describing and making equal groups.
Developing the idea of an abstract composite unit is fundamental for learning multiplication and division.
With the idea of an abstract composite unit, a child who is asked how many threes in eighteen can abstractly think in terms of repeated threes. Because the child can three as a unit, they can think in terms if counting the unit, that is, how many units of three make 18?

1. Mhairi Stratton - March 13, 2008: Arrays are great resources for Multiplication and Division. Here is a fantastic online resource.