Hands-on Multiplication with Legos

Grade Level(s):  2^nd – 3^rd Grade

Content Area:                                                                        Process Area:

Numbers and Operations                                           Problem-Solving

Algebra                                                           Reasoning and Proof

Geometry                                                                    Communication

Measurement                                                             Representation

Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability                    Connections

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.NBT.A.3: Multiply one-digit whole numbers by multiples of 10 in the range 10-90 (e.g., 9 × 80, 5 × 60) using strategies based on place value and properties of operations.

Targeted Needs of Student:

Introducing repeated addition and therefore multiplication, understanding growth of numbers after adding, comparing numbers after adding groups, grouping, introducing graphing techniques

Goal:

Visually representing repeated addition using a color-coded manipulative.

Materials Needed:

1.      One large base plate

2.      15 green 1 x 1 bricks

3.      30 orange 1 x 1 bricks

4.      45 yellow 1 x 1 bricks

5.      60 blue 1 x 1 bricks

6.      75 red 1 x 1 bricks

Explanation/Summary:

Students will start by labeling the base place from 1 to 5. Then they will start with one color and place one red, then two reds, and three reds, four reds, and five reads in a row. Then they will do the same with blue but the will add these blue bricks on top of one of the red rows. Then they will repeat with each color, going over a row each time. Each row is labeled on the base plate. When completed, they should see that each group is multiplied by one more.

Resource:

www.frugalfun4boys.com