In year 3, multiplication and division focusses on recalling and using multiplication and division facts for the 3, 4 and 8 multiplication tables, writing and calculating mathematical statements for multiplication and division using the multiplication tables that they know, including for two-digit numbers times one-digit numbers. They will also be encouraged to solve problems, including missing number problems involving multiplication and division.
This page aims to provide you with all the Year 3 Multiplication and Division National Curriculum objectives, along with some guidance for each objective and a range of games and activities that can be used to meet the learning objective in a play-based way.
Teaching Year 3 Multiplication and Division:
| National Curriculum Objective | Things to think about … | Playful Learning Games |
| Recall and use multiplication and division facts for the 3, 4 and 8 multiplication tables. | Firstly, ensure children are given opportunities to practice and consolidate their learning from year 2, by revisiting the 2, 5 and 10 times tables. When learning multiplication and division facts for the the 3, 4 and 8 times tables, ensure that you provide children with opportunities to: * Make links between repeated addition and multiplication. * Use a range of concrete and pictorial representations to help children understand the times tables. * Focus on commutativity, so that if children know 6 x 3, they also know 3 x 6. * Work with children on building the ability to use known facts to help them solve times table questions, e.g. rather than counting from 1 x 3, they use their knowledge of 5 x 3 and count on or backwards. | Click here for a range of printable playful times table games Click here for FREE times table games |
| Write and calculate mathematical statements for multiplication and division using the multiplication tables that they know, including for two-digit numbers times one-digit numbers, using mental and progressing to formal written methods. | There is a lot of vocabulary associated with this learning objective so it is important to expose children to this vocabulary by giving them examples and allowing them to use hands-on resources to help them understand the meaning of the words. Give children time to practice using, building and drawing arrays correctly and show how these are useful in helping us to answer a question. Consistently use vocabulary associated with multiplication and division: Multiplication – lots of, groups of, equal groups Division – sharing, grouping When teaching division children need to be aware of the difference between sharing and grouping and also what answer they need to give for the question they are working on. Again, lots of concrete resources and pictorial representations will help children to understand division and then as they progress, the use of bar models is an effective tool for children to use when solving problems. When solving problems, use the inverse operation to help children check their answers but also embed the link between multiplication and division. | Equal Groups – Multiplication Solving Problems with Arrays – Multiplication Fill the Grid – Using Arrays – Multiplication Multiplication Match – Repeated Addition and Arrays – Multiplication Sharing and Grouping Pairs – Division Draw A Bar Model – Division Share Them Out – Division (does include remainders) Calculate and Find – written multiplication and division |
| Solve problems, including missing number problems, involving multiplication and division, including positive integer scaling problems and correspondence problems in which n objects are connected to m objects. | For all of the objective above, children should be exposed to problem solving and reasoning questions. Ensure children are given full access to a range of resources to use when solving these types of problems. |