Max Maths, Year 3, Try it, Word problems (1)

In an engaging exercise designed for Year 3 students, Max Maths presents a practical 'Try it' activity involving word problems. The first problem invites children to calculate the total number of wheels on 14 tricycles. Since each tricycle has three wheels, the task is to multiply the number of tricycles by the number of wheels per tricycle to find the total. To make the concept more accessible, the problem suggests using counting blocks to represent the wheels, which helps visualise the multiplication process. The blocks are grouped into tens and ones to simplify the calculation and to aid in understanding the concept of place value.

The counting blocks are arranged to show groups of ten, making it easier for students to see how multiplication can be broken down into more manageable parts. By adding the groups of tens together and then combining them with the ones, students can see the total number of wheels in a clear and structured way. The activity not only reinforces multiplication skills but also strengthens the students' ability to organise and add numbers. By the end of the exercise, students can confidently determine that there are 42 wheels on 14 tricycles, demonstrating their understanding of both multiplication and the representation of numbers using counting blocks.