Understand that Multiplication Can be Done in Any Order

In this activity, we will be looking at how multiplication can be done in any order.  

This array works in two different ways. 

If we group the starfish into columns we have five lots of two and there are 10 starfish altogether. 

This is 5 x 2 = 10 

If we group the starfish into rows we have two lots of five and there are still 10 starfish altogether. 

This is 5 x 2 = 10

Example

What is 3 times 2?

The array above shows 3 x 2 = 

To work out what the answer is we can count all the starfish to find the total. There are 6 starfish here so 3 times 2 is 6.