Every chance I get I try to make learning as fun and interactive as possible, especially in math. As a student I struggled with math because I was taught through algorithms and rote memorization. As a kinesthetic and visual learner this method of teaching did not work for me. Often times after days of learning a new skill I will allow the students the opportunity to work with manipulatives to strengthen their understanding of the topic.
In this particular case the students were just beginning to learn about multiplication concepts. We began the unit by working with familiar concepts such as the relationship between repeated addition and multiplication as well as visualizing multiplication through building arrays. Once the students had learned how arrays can help us solve multiplication problems the students then had the chance to build their own using a fun (and delicious!) tool. We played a game called "Taste the Arrays" using skittles to build four different arrays.
The students were given charts to keep track of their work:
On each section the student would build an array that I displayed on the board (ie 4 rows of 5) using their skittles. Once they had correctly built the array they then had to write the multiplication sentence (4x5=20) in the space provided as well as the repeated addition (4+4+4+4+4=20).
Once they finished all of their arrays they were treated to a few of their skittles. The students not only loved having the treat at the end of the day, but really practiced their understanding of the different forms a number can take when multiplying.
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