Multiplication and Division

The very important concept of Multiplication and Division is being introduced in class currently.  The Grade 3 Manitoba Math curriculum indicates that students should know their facts to 5 X 5 by June of Grade 3.  Knowing the facts is only a small part of the expectations, they need to understand what it means to multiply and divide.

When I introduce multiplying, I have them refer to 4 ways to think about it so that they understand what it really means.

1. Circles and Stars - Draw it out in a picture.  For 3 X 4, make 3 circles and draw 4 stars in each one.  This shows the groups in picture form and we quickly find it is not that effiecient and mistakes can be made.
2. Repeated Addition - 3 X 5 can be shown as 5 + 5 + 5 and skip counting can help to get the answer too.
3. Number Line - Another way to demonstrate multiplication is using a number line and showing jumps.  4 X 2 can be shown with 4 jumps of 2, skip counting 2,4,6,8.  Quickly some kids notice that the numbers can be reversed and 2 jumps of 4 will give the same answer but quicker.
4. Arrays - drawing boxes or objects in equal rows helps students see multiplication in a concrete way.  3 X 3 can be drawn in a square 3 boxes high and 3 boxes long. 

Having learned the multiplication first, then turning it around with division is where we are right now with the Grade 3's.  Does anyone remember the Animaniacs?  Check out this video!

Free Websites!

Snow Day!  Teachers so look forward to a day like this one when they can get some of the administrative and planning jobs checked off their list!  One I've had on mine for a while is to write this blog post including some great free websites that parents and students can use at home.  We use some of theses sites now in class and some are in my future plans.  I hope you take a few minutes to find a new favourite one for your child to use at home.  

  
11 Free Reading Sites

11 Free Math Sites

11 Free Science Sites

Word Clouds

Today in Literacy Centers, the students were introduced to a website called Word Clouds that makes a visual representation of the words in a passage.  A word cloud of the last post in the Room 21 Blog about Reading Goals could look like this:

The little words like "and", "the" and "to" have been left out with a setting but if they were included, it could look like this:

This tool can be helpful to find the main idea of a passage.  The words in larger size shows the words that were used most in the passage.  It is a fun tool to use because you can change the colours, the fonts and the arrangement of the words in the cloud. 

Right now, we are using it for a different purpose.  We are studying about animal groups and the students will be asked to find a list of animals and type them into word cloud.  They have reference books to use or just think about them.  If they type an animal or their name several times, it will show up bigger in the cloud.  Everyone will have a turn to print out a cloud and display them above the computers in the classroom.

Maybe you would like to try out Word Cloud at home too.  There are other online similar sites like Wordle and Tagxedo too.  Have fun!