Multiplication and division - Use arrays - Starter

For Year 2 students in their second week of the Spring Term, the lesson begins with a 'Fluent in Four' revision segment, designed to sharpen mental arithmetic and understanding of basic mathematical concepts. The children are encouraged to solve simple addition problems such as doubling the number 7 and then adding 42, and adding together the numbers 4, 3, and 7. This activity aims to build fluency in performing quick calculations and to reinforce their number sense. Additionally, the students are tasked with completing a 'one more and one less' exercise, where they must determine the numbers that are immediately before and after a given number, further bolstering their numerical understanding.

The lesson also incorporates a practical application of multiplication through the use of arrays. Students are presented with pictures and asked to form multiplication sentences based on what they see, for example, "6 lots of 10 equals 60", and to write these sentences out, such as "6 x 10 = 60". This method helps them visualise and understand the concept of multiplication as repeated addition. To integrate comparison and measurement vocabulary, the children are given objects like a ball and a mug, and they must use terms like 'heavier', 'lighter', or 'equal' to describe the relationship between their weights. This exercise not only teaches them about comparing weights but also about applying appropriate descriptive vocabulary in mathematical contexts.