You will learn
- Spot equal groups in a story.
- Write a multiplication sentence.
- Solve one- and two-step problems.
- Write the answer with its unit.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- Spot equal groups in the story.
- Write the multiplication.
- Solve one- and two-step problems.
- Write the unit in the answer.
Words to know
Every one.
The total.
Same amount in each.
The answer to a multiplication.
1. Discover: market stalls
A trader has 6 baskets with 8 mangoes in each. How many mangoes in all?
2. Understand: multiplication problems
Look for equal groups. Words like each, every and groups of tell us to multiply.
6 baskets of 8 mangoes: 6 × 8 = 48. 5 packs of 12 pencils: 5 × 12 = 60. 4 buses with 30 seats each: 4 × 30 = 120. 7 weeks of 7 days: 7 × 7 = 49 days.
Two steps: 4 boxes of 25 pens = 100 pens; sell 30; 100 − 30 = 70 left.
Idea 1: Equal groups
6 baskets with 8 mangoes each is 6 × 8 = 48 mangoes.
Idea 2: Bigger numbers
4 buses with 30 seats each is 4 × 30 = 120 seats.
Idea 3: Two steps
4 boxes of 25 pens is 100 pens. If 30 are sold, 100 − 30 = 70 pens left.
Why the unit? 48 alone does not say what we counted.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Baskets
6 baskets of 8 mangoes. How many?
- 6 × 8.
Answer: 48 mangoes
Example 2 (We do it together): Buses
4 buses of 30 seats. How many seats?
- 4 × 30.
Answer: 120 seats
Example 3 (You try): Two steps
4 boxes of 25 pens; 30 are sold. How many are left?
Show the steps and answer
- 4 × 25 = 100.
- 100 − 30.
Answer: 70 pens
Did you know?
The word each usually tells us a multiplication.
Why this matters
Real life is full of equal groups.
4. Explore: story time
You need paper and a pencil.
- Read: 6 baskets of 8 mangoes.
- Write 6 × 8.
- Solve: 48.
- Write the answer with its unit.
Think about it: what did you notice?
48 mangoes.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- There are ___ groups of ___.
- The multiplication is ___.
- In all there are ___.
- The unit is ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. 6 baskets of 8?
6 × 8 = 48.
Question 2. 4 buses of 30 seats?
4 × 30 = 120.
Question 3. 4 boxes of 25, sell 30. Left?
100 − 30 = 70.
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- 6 baskets of 8 mangoes
- 5 packs of 12 pencils
- 4 buses of 30 seats
- 7 weeks of 7 days
- 9 trays of 6 eggs
Level 2: Grow
- 4 boxes of 10 pens
- 3 bags of 25 sweets
- 9 rows of 5 chairs
Level 3: Stretch
- 6 weeks of 7 days
- 8 packs of 12 pencils
- Kofi says 4 buses of 30 seats carry 34 seats. What is wrong?
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: everyday mathematics
A shop buys 4 boxes of 25 pens and sells 30. How many pens are left?
Show a sample answer
70 pens.
Another one. A baker packs 8 loaves in each of 9 bags. Write the multiplication and the total with its unit.
Show a sample answer
9 × 8 = 72 loaves
7. Common mistakes
Fix: Find the groups and multiply.
Fix: Look for equal groups.
Fix: Write the unit in the answer.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can spot equal groups.
- I can write a multiplication.
- I can solve two-step problems.
- I can write the unit.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- Find equal groups.
- Multiply.
- Do any second step.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Division as sharing. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- 6 baskets of 8 mangoes. How many? [2 marks]
- 5 packs of 12 pencils. How many? [2 marks]
- 4 boxes of 25 pens; 30 are sold. How many are left? [3 marks]
- 7 weeks of 7 days. How many days? [2 marks]
- Ali says 9 trays of 6 eggs is 15 eggs. Is he right? Explain. [3 marks]
Total: 12 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- 6 × 8 [1] = 48 [1]
- 5 × 12 [1] = 60 [1]
- 4 × 25 = 100 [1]; 100 − 30 [1] = 70 [1]
- 7 × 7 [1] = 49 days [1]
- No [1]. He added [1]. 9 × 6 = 54 [1].
Score guide: 11 to 12 = secure. 8 to 10 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 8 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- 6 baskets of 8
- 5 packs of 12
- 4 buses of 30
- 7 weeks of 7 days
- 9 trays of 6 eggs
- 6 baskets of 8 mangoes =
- 5 packs of 12 pencils =
- 4 buses of 30 seats =
- 7 weeks of 7 days =
- 9 trays of 6 eggs =
Homework
Write a multiplication story about your family and solve it.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 6 baskets of 8 | 48 | 2 |
| 5 packs of 12 | 60 | 2 |
| 4 buses of 30 | 120 | 2 |
| 7 weeks of 7 days | 49 | 2 |
| 9 trays of 6 eggs | 54 | 2 |
| Total | 10 |
Practice answers: Worksheet: 1 48; 2 60; 3 120; 4 49; 5 54.
Quiz answers: 1 A, 2 B, 3 C, 4 A, 5 B, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 C, Challenge 2 C.
Extra worksheet answers (items 6 onward): 6 48; 7 60; 8 120; 9 49 days; 10 54.
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 48 mangoes; 2 60 pencils; 3 120 seats; 4 49 days; 5 54 eggs. Level 2: 1 40 pens; 2 75 sweets; 3 45 chairs. Level 3: 1 42 days; 2 96 pencils; 3 He added. Equal groups mean 4 × 30 = 120..
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Spot equal groups in a story | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Write a multiplication sentence | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Solve one- and two-step problems | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Write the answer with its unit | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: Adding the numbers in the story. Find the groups and multiply.
- Explain another way: use real objects first, then pictures.
- Show a simpler example: Act the story with counters in groups.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child solves word problems about equal groups. You do not need to be good at mathematics to help.
- Make up shopping problems with equal groups.
- Ask: how many groups? how many in each?
- Always say the unit.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: spot equal groups in a story; write a multiplication sentence; solve one- and two-step problems; write the answer with its unit.
Prerequisite knowledge. Lessons 1 to 6.
Materials. Counters (stones, seeds or bottle tops), paper, pencils, board or chalkboard. Low-resource options: use stones, seeds, sticks, bottle tops or drawings in the sand or on the board instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Gather the counters and draw the example pictures on the board before the lesson.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Start with the Discover situation and let learners suggest ideas before you teach.
Explanation (10 min). Teach the Understand section with real objects first, then pictures, then symbols and words.
Guided activity (10 min). You need paper and a pencil. Learners follow the Explore steps in pairs.
Independent activity (10 min). Learners complete the independent practice and the worksheet.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. What are the groups? What is in each? What is the total, with its unit?
Teacher explanation notes. Use the concrete, pictorial, abstract order: real objects first, then pictures, then symbols and words. Return to real objects whenever a learner needs support.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use real objects and work with a partner; say each step aloud together. Extension. Ask learners to make up their own example and explain it to a partner.
Formative assessment. Listen to learner explanations, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. Adding the numbers in the story. Find the groups and multiply.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz and worksheet on this page. The 12-mark exam practice scheme, the 10-mark scheme and all answers are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer and the marking scheme before publication.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Act the story with counters in groups. Enrichment. Invite learners to find or create three more examples at home or in the classroom and explain them. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which concepts learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points named in the Courseversity standard: Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, Cambridge Primary and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Official standards for this topic area. Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (official site): Grade 3 » Operations & Algebraic Thinking; Grade 3 » Number & Operations in Base Ten. These pages list the standards that cover this topic area; read them alongside the lesson.
Research used to shape this lesson. Common Core 3.OA.A.3 and 3.OA.D.8; Cambridge Primary Mathematics Stage 3 (multiplication word problems). These sources informed the lesson.