Math Activity to Teach Using Familiar Facts: Triplets

Math Game: Triplets 

Strand: Number Sense and Numeration, Addition & Multiplication
Math Strategy: Using Familiar Facts

Materials: 
• Triplets deck addition (BLM16 and BLM17)
• Triplets deck multiplication (BLM19 and BLM20)
(These are located in the Guides to Effective Instruction, Vol. 5)

Overview:
Using the addition or multiplication cards provided in the GEIM Volume 5, students can play independently, in groups, or with the whole class. Students will have to match their answer card with the matching fact cards for each set. An example of a triplet would be the three cards: 3+5, 5+3, and 8; or 3 x 6, 6 x 3, and 18. In addition to sorting and matching the cards, you can also play a variation called « Go Fish », where students need 3 cards to make the set.

How this Supports Student Learning: 
This game provides students an opportunity to strengthen their understanding of « commutative » property, which stems from the idea of moving stuff around. Addition and multiplication have the property of commutativity.  When numbers are added or multiplied, the operation can occur with the values in any order and the same answer will be obtained: 3 + 2 = 5, 2 + 3 = 5; 4 x 6 = 24, 6 x 4 = 24. Subtraction and division are not commutative.

Where to next?
Some students immediately see the connection between the commutative property of addition and multiplication.  For others, this is something that has to be seen, felt and experienced many times before they believe it. That's okay! This activity provides an opportunity for the learners who need to see the connections to have that time. This property allows students to work with numbers flexibly, as they adjust numbers to make them easier to work with.  One option to support students in grasping this concept would be to build arrays for multiplication and represent amounts with manipulatives when adding. Placing the values in the part-whole model would also support students to grasp this property.

Addition: Ten Frame activities in the Guide to Effective Instruction: Number Sense and Numeration K-3 support this thinking (i.e., Ten in the Nest, Ten Frame Cards, etc).

Multiplication: The game Boxed Out could support this thinking.