Multiplication Practice with Equal Groups and Arrays
30 October 2026 · Pi Leo Academy
Multiplication becomes easier to explain when the numbers stand for something. Four bags with six marbles in each bag can be drawn, counted and written as a number sentence. That is a useful bridge between a picture and a multiplication fact.
Use this Pi Leo Academy multiplication Short as a starting point, then try the companion examples below with counters, dots or a pencil. The aim is to understand the groups as well as find the total.
Build an array
Draw four rows with six dots in every row. Each row is an equal group. Count in sixes: 6, 12, 18, 24. Therefore 4 × 6 = 24. Turn the paper to see six rows of four. The total stays 24, which helps explain why 6 × 4 gives the same answer.
Keep the rows and columns even. An array with different numbers of dots in each row cannot be described by one “number of rows × dots per row” calculation unless you separate it into equal sections.
Use a fact you know to find a new one
For 6 × 7, split the six groups into five groups and one more group. Five groups of seven make 35. One extra group adds 7. So 6 × 7 = 35 + 7 = 42. Draw a line after the fifth row to see exactly what has been split.
This is also a way to check an answer. If someone writes 6 × 7 = 35, the picture shows that one row of seven has been left out. The explanation tells the learner what to repair.
Try two questions
- There are three trays with eight cakes on each tray. How many cakes are there?
- Use 5 × 9 = 45 to find 6 × 9.
Answers: 1. 3 × 8 = 24 cakes. 2. Add one more group of nine: 45 + 9 = 54. Check by drawing the groups or using repeated addition.
Connect multiplication to division
The same array also shows that 24 ÷ 4 = 6 and 24 ÷ 6 = 4. A family can practise these connected facts together. Ask what the divisor means: are you finding the number in each group, or the number of groups?
Keep the study notes beside you
Full study notes and their PDF downloads require an account with the relevant access. Open the notes page first if you need to sign in or choose a membership. These are companion resources for the activity in this article.
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