Understanding Multiplication Through Repeated Addition with Acrylic Chips – SCOPES-DF

Lesson Details

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Jónatan Guðni Jónsson

Summary

This lesson introduces the concept of multiplication as a process of grouping and repeated addition, designed specifically for autistic 11-year-olds who find math challenging. Using laser-cut, engraved acrylic chips displaying numbers and dots, students engage in hands-on activities to explore multiplication concepts over five 20-minute sessions. By physically grouping and counting the chips, students gain a tangible understanding of multiplication. Each session concludes with a brief reflection to reinforce learning.

 

This plan is based on the Icelandic curriculum in mathematics and is done whith help of chatgpt.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What You'll Need

  • Laser-cut, engraved acrylic chips: Each chip displays a number (1–10) and corresponding dot patterns for visual support.
  • Worksheet or reflection journal: Students will use this to reflect on each day’s lesson (1-2 short questions daily).

 

The Instructions

Day 1: Introduction to Multiplication as Grouping

Introduce multiplication as a way of creating equal groups. Use the acrylic chips to demonstrate how we can form groups by adding identical numbers together. Instructions

Begin with a short, simple explanation: “Multiplication helps us find out how many items we have in equal groups.”

Show a few examples using the chips:

Example 1: Two groups of 3 chips each (3 + 3).

Example 2: Three groups of 2 chips each (2 + 2 + 2).

Encourage students to physically arrange chips into groups as shown.

Reflection: Ask students to draw or describe one way they used the chips to create groups today.

 

Day 2: Exploring “Times” in Multiplication

Expand on yesterday’s activity by introducing "times" (×) as another way to talk about groups.

  1. Present the concept that “2 times 3” means “two groups of three.”
  2. Show examples with chips and have students repeat with their own.
  • Example: 4 times 2 is four groups of two chips.
  1. Ask students to count the total number of chips in each arrangement to see the result of the multiplication.
  2. Reflection: Have students describe what “times” meant in today’s lesson using an example they tried.

 

Day 3: Practice with Visual Patterns

Practice multiplication using chips to see patterns, reinforcing the connection between addition and multiplication.

  1. Give students specific multiplication problems (e.g., 3 × 4, 2 × 5).
  2. Ask them to arrange their chips to match each problem, grouping them and counting the totals.
  3. Encourage students to see the addition pattern in each problem (e.g., 3 × 4 = 4 + 4 + 4).

Reflection: Ask students to describe or draw one pattern they noticed.

Day 4: Problem Solving with Multiplication

Students solve simple word problems using the chips, practicing multiplication in real-world scenarios.

  1. Present word problems that require multiplication to solve.
  • Example: “You have 3 bags, and each bag has 4 candies. How many candies do you have in total?”
  1. Guide students in using the chips to represent each problem, creating groups as needed.
  2. Reflection: Have students share one problem they solved and how they used the chips to find the answer.

 

Day 5: Review and Reinforcement

A review day to reinforce concepts and encourage students to articulate their understanding.

  1. Go over key ideas from the week: what “groups” and “times” mean, and how multiplication relates to addition.
  2. Let students create their own multiplication problems and solve them with the chips.
  3. Reflection: Ask students to reflect on one new thing they learned about multiplication this week.

 

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