A focused Grade 3 learning session for Multiplication and Division Word Problems using visual models, worked examples, strategy guidance, and a short mastery check.
Student goal: I can solve multiplication and division word problems and explain my equation.
Multiplication and Division Word Problems means choosing a model, naming what each number means, and explaining the strategy.
Question: Shown below is an array of dots. Count the rows and columns to find the total. The array shows \(3\) columns and \(4\) rows. How many dots are there?
Why it works: Multiply: \(3\) columns \(\times\) \(4\) rows \(= 12\) dots.
Answer: \(12\)
Question: Below is a rectangular array showing books on shelves. There are \(5\) shelves with \(6\) books on each shelf. How many books are there altogether?
Answer: \(30\)
Question: Below is a grouped representation showing \(3\) groups of items with \(5\) items in each group drawn as stars. How many stars are there in total?
Answer: \(15\)
Question: Ava has \(3\) bags of marbles. Each bag has \(7\) marbles. How many marbles does Ava have altogether?
Why it works: Multiply: \(3\) bags \(\times\) \(7\) marbles per bag \(= 21\) marbles.
Answer: \(21\)
Multiplication and Division Word Problems becomes easier when students connect the question to a model, use clear steps, and explain why the answer fits.
Understand the model before choosing the operation.
Use scratch paper. The explanation matters more than simply seeing whether the choice is correct.
A baker puts \(6\) cupcakes in each box. If he has \(9\) boxes, how many cupcakes does he have in total?
Answer D: \(54\)
\(9\) boxes \(\times\) \(6\) cupcakes per box \(= 54\) cupcakes.
Ava has \(3\) bags of marbles. Each bag has \(7\) marbles. How many marbles does Ava have altogether?
Answer D: \(21\)
Multiply: \(3\) bags \(\times\) \(7\) marbles per bag \(= 21\) marbles.
A farmer plants corn in an array with \(4\) rows and \(8\) plants in each row. How many plants does the farmer plant?
Answer A: \(32\)
Multiply rows by plants per row: \(4 \times 8 = 32\) plants.
Sam buys \(5\) packs of stickers. Each pack has \(6\) stickers. How many stickers does Sam buy?
Answer D: \(30\)
Multiply: \(5\) packs \(\times\) \(6\) stickers per pack \(= 30\) stickers.
A rectangle has a length of \(9\) cm and a width of \(4\) cm. What is the area of the rectangle?
Answer D: \(36\) cm\(^2\)
Area \(= \text{length} \times \text{width} = 9 \times 4 = 36\) cm\(^2\).
Eli shares \(24\) pencils equally among \(3\) friends. How many pencils does each friend get?
Answer A: \(8\)
Divide: \(24 \div 3 = 8\) pencils per friend.
Mia makes \(28\) cookies and puts \(4\) cookies on each plate. How many plates does she use?
Answer A: \(7\)
Divide: \(28 \div 4 = 7\) plates.
Noah buys \(2\) toy cars. Each car costs \($8\). How much money does Noah spend?
Answer D: \($16\)
Multiply: \(2\) cars \(\times\) \($8\) per car \(= $16\).
There are \(5\) tables in the cafeteria. Each table has \(6\) chairs. How many chairs are there altogether?
Answer D: \(30\)
Multiply: \(5\) tables \(\times\) \(6\) chairs per table \(= 30\) chairs.
A garden is arranged in an array with \(7\) rows and \(3\) plants in each row. How many plants are in the garden?
Answer A: \(21\)
Multiply: \(7\) rows \(\times\) \(3\) plants per row \(= 21\) plants.
Ben has \(36\) books. He puts them equally on \(4\) shelves. How many books are on each shelf?
Answer A: \(9\)
Divide: \(36 \div 4 = 9\) books per shelf.
