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Third grade is the year of multiplication. Though it was most likely introduced to kids in second grade, third grade is when kids are tasked with mastering their times tables and developing a stronger understanding of this key operation. This guided lesson in understanding multiplication can help give third graders a leg up. For even more practice, consider downloading the recommended multiplication worksheets that accompany the lesson.

Multiplication is essentially repeated addition, or growing numbers by doubling, tripling, quadrupling, and so on. This unit presents mental models and strategies that help students learn and review the concept of multiplication. Students explore multiplication using arrays, partial products, doubling methods and the standard algorithm to solve numerical and word problems. Students will multiply whole numbers and simple decimals by base ten exponents (i.e. .3 x 103).

This guided lesson builds upon third graders' understanding of multiplication in order to further develop fluency with this operation. The lesson first reinforces the various strategies for doing multiplication (for example, repeated addition), then teaches kids to apply those strategies within practical exercises. Designed by our team of teachers and curriculum experts, the goal is to provide numerous ways to conceptualize multiplication problems.