Multiplication and division - The Multiplication Symbol - Presentation

In a comprehensive exploration of the multiplication symbol, students are encouraged to revisit the concept and recall alternative terms that convey the same meaning as multiplication. The lesson involves a series of engaging activities where students complete sentences to describe equal groups in various scenarios, reinforcing their understanding of multiplication as repeated addition. For example, they are asked to interpret what numbers like 3 and 6 represent in the context of multiplication, and to fill in blanks to demonstrate that three groups of six can be expressed as both an addition sentence (6 + 6 + 6) and a multiplication sentence (3 x 6).

The lesson continues with activities designed to deepen students' reasoning and fluency with the multiplication symbol. They are tasked with drawing representations of multiplication, writing their own multiplication stories to match calculations, and using comparison symbols to make mathematical statements true. In one reasoning exercise, students evaluate a peer's assertion that 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 equals 4 x 4, drawing images to support their explanations. The lesson concludes with independent work, where students draw representations to connect repeated addition and multiplication sentences, and craft their own multiplication stories. This approach not only solidifies their comprehension of multiplication but also encourages critical thinking and the ability to articulate mathematical concepts clearly.