3rd Grade Math Lesson

Who Has More? Cracking the Code of Multiplication & Division Word Problems

Shared by A STEM Educator

3rd GradeBuilding Thinking Classrooms (BTC)CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.OA.A.1, CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.OA.A.2, CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.OA.A.350 min

Learning Objective

Students will represent and solve one-step multiplication and division word problems involving equal groups, arrays, and multiplicative comparison by modeling with tape diagrams and equations containing an unknown variable (e.g., $3 \times □ = 24$ ).

Lesson Overview

Students move through five thin-sliced tasks at vertical whiteboards, building from equal-groups multiplication to multiplicative comparison and reverse-engineering tape diagrams. A Desmos 'Tape Diagram Stretcher' anchors the visual connection between known and unknown quantities.

Materials

Vertical whiteboards or large chart paper
Dry-erase markers (1 per group)
Random grouping cards or app
Printed tape diagram reference strips (optional)
Student consolidation note sheets (4-quadrant)

Scaffolded Task Progression

1Task 1

At the Space Station cargo bay, there are

6

storage crates. Each crate holds

4

meal pouches. How many meal pouches are there in all? Draw an equal-groups diagram AND write a multiplication equation with the answer.

2Task 2

The Space Station receives

24

meal pouches. The crew shares them equally into

6

storage crates. How many pouches go in each crate? Draw a tape diagram and write an equation using

□

for the unknown.

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