Silly Face Arrays - Practical Maths Activity

The "Silly Face Arrays" practical maths activity is an engaging resource designed to help children grasp the concept of multiplication through the use of arrays. The activity features two versions of monster faces. The first version is a blank template where children can use materials such as googly eyes, dot stickers, or paper to create arrays that represent eyes. They are then encouraged to write down the multiplication sentence and answer that their array represents on a whiteboard. This hands-on approach allows children to visualise and understand the structure of arrays in a fun and interactive way.

The second version of the monster face provides scaffolding for children who may need more guidance in creating arrays. It already includes circles where children can place their googly eyes to form pre-determined arrays. This version helps reinforce the concept of arrays and multiplication for those not yet confident in forming their own. Both versions can be printed and laminated back-to-back, allowing children to attempt the blank version and then check their understanding with the scaffolded side. The activity is aligned with the National Curriculum objectives, progressively building multiplication skills from Year 1 through Year 4. As students place their eyes over the circles, they not only visualise multiplication facts, such as 2 x 5 = 10, but also corresponding repeated addition sentences, enhancing their understanding of the relationship between addition and multiplication.