Recognizing and creating arrays is so helpful when building a multiplication foundation. An array is a way to organize quantifiable objects, pictures, etc. of equal groups in rows and columns. It allows the concrete counting of objects in a visual, logical way. My students take something they’re familiar with and use it to learn something new.
Truly, arrays are the easiest and most logical way to show kids the commutative property of multiplication. The commutative property simply means that one can multiply numbers in any order and the product does not change (3 x 4=12 is the same as 4 x 3=12). Allowing students to explore with objects in an array will help them discover that 12 objects can be arranged in 3 rows or 4 or 4 rows of 3. Arrays can also be helpful to explore calculations such as 13 x 5 where the array can be split into useful chunks such as 10 and 3. This means that children can use their known number facts to work out calculations.
