Multiplication and Division Activity

Multiplication and Division: How to Solve? 

Source: Elementary and Middle School Mathematics: teaching developmentally by John A. Van De Walle, Karen S. Karp, and Jennifer M. Bay-Williams. Activity 13.5

Materials:

• Problems which are reasonably difficult for students’ current skills
• Such as: “T-shirts with the school logo cost $6 wholesale.  The Pep Club has saved $257.  How many T-shirt’s can they buy for their fundraiser?”
• Whiteboards or paper for students to scribble on so that they can share ideas if they want to keep a record of their thinking

Directions:

• The task is to give students a problem and have them describe the steps they would take to solve the problem (not actually solving it)
• Then have students share ideas