3 Free Florida BEST Multiplication and Division Lessons
Are you worried your students are not fluent with multiplication and division using the new Florida BEST math standards?
Teaching multiplication and division together using fact families, models, arrays and other concrete representations can help students grow in their fluency but it’s important to remember students have until fourth grade to become completely fluent. Using these Florida BEST multiplication and division lesson ideas can help you teach your students confidently knowing that a strong conceptual understanding lays the foundation for the fluency that will eventually come.
For more Florida BEST multiplication and Division games and systems to use in your classroom you can visit HERE.
Lesson Idea 1 Teaching Multiplication and Division Together
Teaching these HUGE mathematical concepts separate from each other is a BIG mistake! Save yourself the trouble and introduce them together with fact families and an array to help your students build a conceptual understanding that will last longer.
Students grasp multiplication quicker than division. Something about the starting with the whole really intimidates them from trying to draw a model and break the whole into equal parts.
If students learn them TOGETHER it may appear like more work at first, but they are actually saving time.
Using standards like MA.3.NSO.2.2, use word problems about equal groups of common items for students to visualize instead of abstract numbers without any meaning attached.
| MA.3.NSO.2.2 Sample Lesson Plan |
| Use the following word problem to model for students how to create an array for the problem: “There are 5 bags with 6 oranges in each bag. How many oranges are there altogether? |
| Review key vocabulary word product and factor as you solve the problem as a class. |
| List all 4 equations for the problem as the Fact Family. |
| Have students work with a partner to solve a similar multiplication word problem such as: “John has two boxes of pencils with 8 pencils in each box. How many pencils does John have?” Remind them to create an array to help them visualize the problem. |
| Next give students the opportunity to practice independently with an activity or center games. |
If you are looking for something print and go, then you should grab my Florida BEST Multiplication and Division Math journal lesson for MA.3.NSO.2.2.
The lesson includes examples pages for multiplication and division along with practice pages, a sorting activity, 2 matching games and a find the error activity.
Lesson Idea 2 Teaching the Properties
| MA.3.NSO.2.4 Sample Lesson Plan |
| Show examples of the following properties: 1. Commutative Property of Multiplication 2. Associate Property of Multiplication 3. Distributive Property of Multiplication |
| Have students work with a partner to solve multiplication and division problems multiple ways using the properties. |
| Next give students the opportunity to practice independently with an activity or center games. |
If you are looking for something print and go, then you should grab my Florida BEST Multiplication and Division Math journal lesson for MA.3.NSO.2.4.
The lesson includes examples pages for the three properties along with practice pages, a sorting activity, 2 matching games and a find the error activity.
Lesson Idea 3 Teaching Multiples
| MA.3.AR.3.2 Sample Lesson Plan |
| Model for students how to find the multiples of 6 by multiplying 6 x 1 all the way through 6 x 12. Then list all 12 multiples of 6. |
| Have students find the multiples of 8 by multiplying 8 x 1 all the way through 8 x 12 with a partner. Then have partners list all 12 multiples of 8. |
| Let student independently find the multiples of 7 by multiplying 7 x 1 all the way through 7 x 12. Then have students list all 12 multiples of 7. Review their work as a class. |
| Give students a chance to continue practicing. Have students skip count as a class to list multiples. |
| Provide students with center activities that ask students to match the list of multiples with a single digit number or identify of a number is a multiple of another number. |
If you are looking for something print and go, then you should grab my Florida BEST Math journal Multiples lesson for MA.3.AR.3.2.
The lesson includes examples pages for multiples along with practice pages, a sorting activity, 2 matching games and a find the error activity.
Five Florida BEST Multiplication and Division Standards
MA.3.NSO.2.2 – Explore multiplication of two whole numbers with products from 0 to 144 and related division facts.
MA.3.NSO.2.4– Multiply two whole numbers from 0 to 12 and divide using related facts with procedural reliability.
MA.3.AR.1.1- Apply the distributive property to multiply a one-digit number and two-digit number. Apply properties of multiplication to find a product of one-digit whole numbers.
MA.3.AR.2.1- Restate a division problem as a missing factor problem using the relationship between multiplication and division.
MA.3.AR.3.2- determine whether a whole number from 1 to 144 is a multiple of a given one digit number.
How are the New Florida BEST Multiplication and Division Standards Different?
Ways to Use these Florida BEST Lesson Ideas
- Whole group focus lesson
- Small group instruction
- Lesson for substitute to use with class
- Tutoring during or after school
Looking for a Way to Track Your Students’ Growth
Grab these 3rd Grade Florida BEST “I Can” Math Data tracking sheet to use with your students. You can learn about different ways to use them with your students here.
