Making Equal Groups and Building Arrays

This week in math, our second graders explored arrays and equal groups—a fantastic introduction to multiplication! Using manipulatives like fruit erasers and tiles, students practiced arranging objects into rows and columns, learning how numbers can be organized into equal groups.

We started by making equal groups, helping students see that each row or column should have the same number of items. For example, they arranged 12 objects into 3 rows of 4, recognizing that each row is an equal group. This hands-on practice with equal groups and arrays allowed them to see the connection between addition and multiplication in a fun, interactive way.

By the end of the activity, our budding mathematicians not only strengthened their understanding of arrays but also had a blast exploring math in a fun, tactile way!