enVision Mathematics Grade 3, Topic 1: Understand Multiplication and Division
In this unit, your child learns what multiplication and division mean before memorizing any facts. Multiplication is joining equal groups, and division is sharing a total into equal groups or making groups of a set size. Story problems tie both together. The next unit uses these ideas to find patterns that make the first multiplication facts easier.
By Robert “Bobby” BarnettMath teacher, parent, and founder of Bobby’s Math Club
What is my child learning in Topic 1?
- Describing 5 × 7 as 5 groups of 7 and showing it with drawings or arrays, rows and columns of objects. Learn more: Multiplication as equal groups
- Using division two ways: sharing 20 among 4 to get 5 each, and making groups of 4 to get 5 groups. Learn more: Division as sharing into equal groups
- Reading a story about equal groups and deciding whether to multiply to find the total or divide to find a share. Learn more: Multiplying and dividing in story problems
Sample questions to try together
These are real questions from our practice. Tap the speaker to hear one read aloud, or the light bulb for a hint, and talk about the answer together.
Question 1 of 3
Hana has 3 plates with 5 strawberries on each plate. She writes 3 × 5. What does 3 × 5 tell her?
- How many strawberries there are in all
- How many strawberries are on each plate
- How many plates she has
How you can help
- Point out equal groups at the grocery store, such as egg cartons with 2 rows of 6 or packs of 4 yogurts, and ask your child to name the times sentence.
- Take 12 crackers and share them among 3 people, then put them in piles of 3, and talk about what the answer 4 means each time.
- Make up a quick story at dinner, like 24 strawberries shared among 4 plates, and ask your child to draw a picture before solving it (6 each).
Where kids can get stuck
- Swapping the number of groups and the size of each group, so 3 bags of 6 becomes 6 bags of 3.
- Mixing up whether a division answer tells how many in each group or how many groups there are.
- Picking an operation from one word, such as dividing whenever a story says each.
Practice makes perfect
Bobby's Math Club has practice problems that adapt to your child’s level, each with a detailed explanation and an easy-to-follow video, so your child can build confidence in these skills one step at a time.
Words your child will hear
- multiply
- To join equal groups to find how many in all.
- divide
- To share a total fairly, or to find how many equal groups fit in it.
- equal groups
- Groups that all hold the same amount, like 3 plates with 4 crackers each.
- array
- Objects arranged in equal rows and columns.
- row
- A line of objects going across.
- column
- A line of objects going up and down.
- product
- The answer when you multiply.
- quotient
- The number you get when you divide, like 5 in 20 ÷ 4 = 5.
Ready to build your child’s confidence with multiplication and division?
In Bobby's Math Club, your child practices these skills at just the right level, with a hint when they need one, a clear explanation after every question, and kid-friendly videos. Unlimited practice is free.
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Written by Robert “Bobby” Barnett
Bobby is an award-winning math teacher, the author of Meet Every Learner’s Needs, and the father of two elementary-school math learners. He uses Bobby’s Math Club with his own kids a few times every week. Learn more or contact Bobby.
Which math standards does enVision Mathematics Grade 3 Topic 1 cover?
enVision Mathematics Grade 3 Topic 1 covers these math standards. Each one links to what it means, sample questions, and teaching strategies.
For teachers: Unit names and order vary between editions and districts, so your school’s own materials have the exact sequence. Learn how Bobby's Math Club can help your students grow.