Thinking sheet · Math and science

Array Garden

Plant flowers in neat rows and columns to show multiplication. How many ways can you plant 12 flowers?

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Grades
2–4
Time
about 20 minutes
Kids practice
multiplication, arrays, factors

What kids do

“Plant your garden in rows! Rows × flowers in each row = all the flowers.”

  1. Plant 12 flowers in rows. Try three different gardens.
  2. My gardens
  3. Which garden would fit a long, skinny yard?

How to run it

  • Use counters on a desk first, then draw.
  • 3 rows of 4 and 4 rows of 3 are both right: talk about why.
  • Try 24 flowers for a challenge.

Talk about it

  • Can 12 flowers go in 5 equal rows?
  • Where do you see arrays in real life?
  • Which number has the most gardens?

Take it further

Find every garden for 24 flowers.

Pairs well with

Free for home and classroom use. Print as many copies as you need.

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