While studying sets and whole number operations and
properties this week in my summer Math for Elementary Teachers class, the topic
of the rectangular array was broached. Arrays can be
used starting in the early elementary years to help students understand a
variety of number concepts and operations.
As a teacher of elementary students, it is beneficial to understand
different ways that arrays can be used to help teach math. The possibilities are endless. Only limited by how creative you are willing
to be.
Aren’t arrays just
for teaching multiplication?Of course not! How boring would that be? Before students learn multiplication, arrays can be used to teach many other number concepts. A few of them are…
- Equal /Not Equal
- Odd/Even
- Sorting
- Skip Counting
Some of these concepts are related to multiplication but younger students will probably not notice this connection until later. Arrays can be used to teach many things and exposing students to them early in their education will help to build links to prior knowledge for future learning.
How can arrays be used for multiplication?
Arrays are an excellent way to help students understand multiplication. Breaking number sentences into rows and columns helps to give them a visual representation of the problem. Besides this arrays can be used to explore and demonstrate other concepts that go along with multiplication.
- Properties of Multiplication
- InverseOperation of Multiplication - Division
How can we get creative with arrays?
Even though graph paper and a pencil work just fine for making arrays, that does not mean that we are limited to using only this method. Arrays are all around us (muffin pans, legos, tiles on a floor, and eggs in a carton) and students should be encouraged to explore them in many different forms. Students can be given grids and various types of materials (buttons, blocks, candies, and coins) to use in making arrays. Arrays can be a great method of visual and hands-on learning.
Hooray for the array!
More information on arrays can be found at:
More about arrays!
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