Thriving in Year Three

Mathematics – Multiplication and Division

Our Year Three students are developing their understanding of multiplication and division through hands on activities, games and real life problem solving. We are learning that multiplication is a quick way of finding equal groups and that division involves sharing or grouping items into equal amounts.

Students are exploring multiplication and division facts for the 2, 3, 5 and 10 times tables and using these facts to solve everyday problems. They are learning different strategies, such as using arrays, skip counting, repeated addition, number lines and drawing pictures to explain their thinking. Students will recognise the important relationship between multiplication and division, understanding that they are inverse (opposite) operations.

As students become more confident, they are encouraged to explain the strategies they use rather than simply finding the correct answer. Developing this mathematical reasoning helps build a deeper understanding and prepares them for more complex mathematics in the future.

How you can help at home:

• Practise the 2, 3, 5 and 10 times tables for a few minutes each day. Timetables Rockstars will assist with this.
• Ask your child to help count groups of everyday objects, such as fruit, toys or socks.
• Encourage your child to solve simple sharing problems, for example, "If 18 strawberries are shared equally between 3 people, how many does each person receive?"
• Play board games or card games that involve counting, grouping or multiplying.
• Look for opportunities to use multiplication and division in everyday life, such as cooking, shopping or setting the table.
• Ask your child to explain how they worked out an answer. Listening to their thinking is just as valuable as checking if the answer is correct.

Regular practice in short enjoyable sessions will help your child build confidence, improve fluency and develop a strong understanding of multiplication and division.