Multiplication and division - How many ways? - Presentation

In the "How Many Ways?" lesson, part of a series on multiplication and division, students are encouraged to explore the concept of finding all possible combinations systematically. This means they work in an organised and methodical way to ensure all combinations are considered without repetition or omission. The lesson begins with a scenario where Zach has three tops and four pairs of shorts, and students are tasked with determining how many different outfits can be created. They use a table to list the combinations, understanding that by multiplying the number of tops by the number of shorts, they can find the total number of unique outfits, which is 12 in this case.

Further activities include a similar challenge where Rosie has four shape cards and three number cards, and students must again list all possible pairings. The lesson reinforces the multiplication principle that the total number of combinations is found by multiplying the quantity in each group, which also results in 12 possibilities. Students use reasoning to explore different scenarios, such as determining how many outfits can be made with varying numbers of jumpers and trousers, and they learn to list the combinations to find the solution. Independent work tasks students with completing tables and listing possibilities for given groups of objects, while discussion prompts encourage deeper thinking about the process and outcomes of the systematic combination-finding method.