Top Drawer Teachers The Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers (AAMT) Inc. http://topdrawer.aamt.edu.au

1. In pairs, one student (the creator) rolls two dice
(6 or 10-sided of different colours). The roll of
one dice (e.g. black) determines the number of
rows, and the roll of the other die (e.g. green)
the number in each row.
The creator uses tiles to make the top row and
left-hand column of the partial rectangular
array.
How many tiles do I need?

2. How many tiles do I need?

3. The partner (thinker) verbalises the number of rows and
number of tiles in each row as a fact (e.g. 3 × 6).
The thinker works out the total amount of tiles needed to
make the complete array and explains how they worked it
out and records it in some way.
The generator uses tiles to check, if needed.
They then swap roles and repeat the activity.
How many tiles do I need?

4. I know 3 × 3 is 9 and I doubled it to work out 3 × 6.
Another way is to think of 3 × 5 is 15, and add another 3.
How many tiles do I need?