Multiplication and division - Make equal groups grouping activity - Planning

The National Curriculum for Year 1 includes objectives that focus on understanding the basics of multiplication and division through practical activities. In week 3 of the summer term, children are introduced to the concept of making equal groups using a variety of objects. The lesson begins with a starter session that encourages students to recap their prior knowledge about grouping and what it means for groups to be equal. A presentation featuring balloons and leaves is used to visually demonstrate the grouping of objects into equal sets. The children are then asked to count and discuss the groups, ensuring they comprehend each part of the process.

During the first activity, children are given a hands-on task of making equal groups with a set number of objects, such as grouping 10 objects into sets of 2 or 5. This activity helps them to visually and physically understand the concept of equal groups. The lesson progresses with an example of 9 pears, prompting a discussion about why they cannot be grouped equally into twos, but can be grouped into threes. Similarly, a scenario with 12 donuts is used to explore the division of objects into groups of three. The lesson aims to solidify the children's understanding of equal and unequal groups through practical grouping exercises and systematic recording of their findings. By the end of the session, children are expected to be able to sort objects into equal groups and articulate their learning, with varying levels of support, by completing the sentence structure 'there are ____ equal groups of ____ .' The lesson also addresses common misconceptions and includes a reflection segment where children can assess what they've learned and identify any challenges they encountered.