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Multiply & Conquer!

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Lesson Plan

Multiply & Conquer!

Students will analyze and solve one-step multiplication word problems using various strategies, demonstrating their understanding of how multiplication applies to real-world situations.

Understanding multiplication word problems helps students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are essential for everyday life and future math concepts. It shows them how math is used outside the classroom!

Audience

3rd Grade Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive learning and guided practice.

Materials

Whiteboard or Projector, Markers/Pens, Multiply & Conquer Slide Deck, Multiplication Warm-Up, Word Problem Worksheet, and Word Problem Answer Key

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

  • Review the Multiply & Conquer Slide Deck and associated notes.
    * Print copies of the Word Problem Worksheet for each student.
    * Ensure the projector or whiteboard is ready for display.
    * Review the Word Problem Answer Key to familiarize yourself with the solutions and common misconceptions.
    * Consider any adaptations needed for diverse learners in your classroom, based on your review of the generated materials.

Step 1

Warm-Up: Brain Boost!

5 minutes

  • Distribute the Multiplication Warm-Up to students.
    * Have students complete the warm-up independently. This will activate their prior knowledge of multiplication facts.
    * Briefly review answers as a class, addressing any quick questions.

Step 2

Introduction: What's the Problem?

5 minutes

  • Display Slide 1: Multiply & Conquer! from the Multiply & Conquer Slide Deck.
    * Engage students with a discussion about when they might use multiplication in real life.
    * Introduce the concept of word problems as

Step 3

Problem Introduction

7 minutes

This section is designed to activate prior knowledge and introduce the concept of

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Slide Deck

Multiply & Conquer!

Solving Multiplication Word Problems

What's a word problem?
It's a story with numbers! We use math to find the answer to the story's question.

Why learn this?
It helps us solve real-life puzzles and become super math detectives!

Welcome students and introduce the topic of word problems. Ask them to think about how multiplication is used in everyday life.

Our Secret Weapon: CUBES!

Circle the numbers
Underline the question
Box the keywords
Evaluate and strategize
Solve and check

Introduce the CUBES strategy for breaking down word problems. Emphasize that this is a tool to help them think through the problem.

Let's Practice Together!

Example 1:

Sarah has 3 boxes of cookies. Each box has 8 cookies. How many cookies does Sarah have in all?

Circle: 3, 8
Underline: How many cookies does Sarah have in all?
Box: boxes of, each box has, in all
Evaluate: This is multiplication! We need to find the total.
Solve: 3 x 8 = 24 cookies

Go through an example problem step-by-step using CUBES. Encourage students to participate and identify the parts of the problem.

Another One! You Try!

Example 2:

A farmer plants 5 rows of apple trees. There are 6 trees in each row. How many apple trees did the farmer plant?

Think: What are the numbers? What's the question? What are the keywords? What's your plan? What's the answer?

Introduce another example. Have students work in pairs or individually to apply the CUBES strategy before revealing the answer.

Let's Check Example 2!

Solution:

Circle: 5, 6
Underline: How many apple trees did the farmer plant?
Box: rows of, each row
Evaluate: Multiplication! Find the total number of trees.
Solve: 5 x 6 = 30 apple trees

Reveal the solution to Example 2 and explain the steps clearly. Address any common misunderstandings.

Time to be a Math Detective!

Now it's your turn to solve some multiplication word problems!

Use your Word Problem Worksheet and remember the CUBES strategy!

Transition to independent practice with the worksheet. Explain that this is their chance to apply what they've learned.

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Warm Up

Multiplication Warm-Up: Fact Attack!

Instructions: Solve the following multiplication problems as quickly and accurately as you can!

  1. 3 x 4 =


  2. 6 x 2 =


  3. 5 x 5 =


  4. 7 x 3 =


  5. 8 x 4 =


  6. 9 x 2 =


  7. 4 x 7 =


  8. 6 x 5 =


  9. 3 x 9 =


  10. 5 x 8 =


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Worksheet

Word Problem Worksheet: Multiply & Conquer!

Instructions: Read each word problem carefully. Use the CUBES strategy to help you solve each problem. Show your work!

  1. There are 4 baskets. Each basket has 7 apples. How many apples are there in total?

    C: Circle the numbers
    U: Underline the question
    B: Box the keywords
    E: Evaluate and strategize
    S: Solve and check












  1. A baker made 6 trays of cupcakes. Each tray holds 5 cupcakes. How many cupcakes did the baker make?

    C: Circle the numbers
    U: Underline the question
    B: Box the keywords
    E: Evaluate and strategize
    S: Solve and check












  1. Maria reads 3 chapters of her book every day. If she reads for 9 days, how many chapters did she read in all?

    C: Circle the numbers
    U: Underline the question
    B: Box the keywords
    E: Evaluate and strategize
    S: Solve and check












  1. A classroom has 5 tables. Each table can seat 4 students. How many students can sit in the classroom?

    C: Circle the numbers
    U: Underline the question
    B: Box the keywords
    E: Evaluate and strategize
    S: Solve and check












  1. Each student needs 2 pencils for a test. If there are 10 students, how many pencils are needed in total?

    C: Circle the numbers
    U: Underline the question
    B: Box the keywords
    E: Evaluate and strategize
    S: Solve and check












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Answer Key

Word Problem Answer Key

Multiplication Warm-Up: Fact Attack! Answers

  1. 3 x 4 = 12
    Thought Process: Simply recall the multiplication fact or count 3 groups of 4.

  2. 6 x 2 = 12
    Thought Process: Recall the multiplication fact or count 6 groups of 2.

  3. 5 x 5 = 25
    Thought Process: Recall the multiplication fact or visualize a 5x5 array.

  4. 7 x 3 = 21
    Thought Process: Recall the multiplication fact or use repeated addition (7+7+7).

  5. 8 x 4 = 32
    Thought Process: Recall the multiplication fact or use repeated addition (8+8+8+8).

  6. 9 x 2 = 18
    Thought Process: Recall the multiplication fact or use repeated addition (9+9).

  7. 4 x 7 = 28
    Thought Process: Recall the multiplication fact or use repeated addition (4+4+4+4+4+4+4).

  8. 6 x 5 = 30
    Thought Process: Recall the multiplication fact or count by 5s six times.

  9. 3 x 9 = 27
    Thought Process: Recall the multiplication fact or use repeated addition (9+9+9).

  10. 5 x 8 = 40
    Thought Process: Recall the multiplication fact or count by 5s eight times.

Word Problem Worksheet: Multiply & Conquer! Answers

Instructions: The following are step-by-step solutions using the CUBES strategy.

  1. There are 4 baskets. Each basket has 7 apples. How many apples are there in total?

    C: Circle the numbers (4, 7)
    U: Underline the question (How many apples are there in total?)
    B: Box the keywords (baskets, each basket has, in total)
    E: Evaluate and strategize (This is a multiplication problem because we have equal groups. We need to find the total number of apples by multiplying the number of baskets by the number of apples in each basket.)
    S: Solve and check
    4 baskets x 7 apples/basket = 28 apples
    Answer: There are 28 apples in total.

  1. A baker made 6 trays of cupcakes. Each tray holds 5 cupcakes. How many cupcakes did the baker make?

    C: Circle the numbers (6, 5)
    U: Underline the question (How many cupcakes did the baker make?)
    B: Box the keywords (trays of, each tray holds)
    E: Evaluate and strategize (This is a multiplication problem. We have 6 equal groups of 5 cupcakes. We need to find the total.)
    S: Solve and check
    6 trays x 5 cupcakes/tray = 30 cupcakes
    Answer: The baker made 30 cupcakes.

  1. Maria reads 3 chapters of her book every day. If she reads for 9 days, how many chapters did she read in all?

    C: Circle the numbers (3, 9)
    U: Underline the question (how many chapters did she read in all?)
    B: Box the keywords (reads chapters every day, for days, in all)
    E: Evaluate and strategize (This is a multiplication problem because Maria reads the same number of chapters each day for a set number of days. We need to find the total number of chapters.)
    S: Solve and check
    3 chapters/day x 9 days = 27 chapters
    Answer: Maria read 27 chapters in all.

  1. A classroom has 5 tables. Each table can seat 4 students. How many students can sit in the classroom?

    C: Circle the numbers (5, 4)
    U: Underline the question (How many students can sit in the classroom?)
    B: Box the keywords (tables, each table can seat)
    E: Evaluate and strategize (This is a multiplication problem. We have 5 tables with 4 students at each. We need to find the total capacity.)
    S: Solve and check
    5 tables x 4 students/table = 20 students
    Answer: 20 students can sit in the classroom.

  1. Each student needs 2 pencils for a test. If there are 10 students, how many pencils are needed in total?

    C: Circle the numbers (2, 10)
    U: Underline the question (how many pencils are needed in total?)
    B: Box the keywords (each student needs, pencils for a test, students, in total)
    E: Evaluate and strategize (This is a multiplication problem. Each of the 10 students needs 2 pencils. We need to find the total number of pencils.)
    S: Solve and check
    2 pencils/student x 10 students = 20 pencils
    Answer: 20 pencils are needed in total.

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Multiply & Conquer! • Lenny Learning