Since I have no idea how proficient in mathematics our children are, I have devised different lessons depending on their skill level. If you run out of time with one of the lessons, go onto the more advanced one. To determine what level they are, I will devise a short math test for them to do.
BEGINNER:
1.Write the 4 signs on the board and ask children to point out similarities. Explain why addition and multiplication signs are similar and why division and subtraction signs are similar.
2. Start with multiplication and do multiples. Make sure to do 2 and 5, do others if necessary. The first child says 2, the next 4, the next 6 until they get the idea. Have them remember what number child they are too. After explaining how this ties in to multiplication, do it again. You will say “Two times…” and the first kid will say “one equals two.” For the next child, you will say “Two times…” and he will says “two equals four.”
3. Show them how to make a multiplication table, two columns from 1 to 12. Fill in whatever numbers you have already done.
4.Explain 0, 1 and 10. Have them divide up the rest of the numbers themselves. They can solve it through addition. Go through and fill up the big chart on the board.
5. Remind them that they need to memorize these numbers. Quiz second teacher to see if she has them all memorized. Tell them that we will have a multiplication game for 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s tomorrow.
INTERMEDIATE:
1.Play the multiplication game for speed. One line and first two people race to get the answer. Winner moves on. Maximum turns = 5. Tell them that if they can do this multiplication, they can do any multiplication, no matter how big.
2. Move on to two digit multiplication. Do a few sample problems. You explain the theory, and they do the math.
3. Do one giant math problem, with maybe five digits. Divide it up into smaller parts and give one part to three children. They will do the parts individually, and check their answers. When they are done, you will combine the smaller answers and add them up, and you can tell the children that they can tell their parents they did multiplication with five digits.
4. Move on to three digit division. Explain about dividend and divisor and how to remember (the dividend is inside in the den, the divisor is outside and needs a visor.)
5. Do sample problems on the board.
ADVANCED:
1.Explain the connection between multiplication and division and how you can use one to check your answer to the other. Show an example on the board, and have the kids do the math and you do the theory.
2. Have the children pair up. Give one partner multiplication and the other division and see if the two match up. For instance, one child has (5 x 2 = ) and one child has (10 divided by 5) They can use each other to check themselves. The problems they will be doing will contain two and three digit numbers. They can’t look at each other until they are finished the problem. Perhaps they should be on opposite sides of the room.
3. Divide the candy (like in the video). First one person has twelve pieces, then another person arrives and they need to share them. This should seem easy to the children. Then make it harder: keep the twelve pieces, but do 5 people. They can’t do it, but let them try it.
4. Explain about the remainder and show them a sample problem.