Understanding Multiplication Through Repeated Addition with Acrylic Chips

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.