A fun, highly visual 3rd-grade lesson introducing multiplication through equal groups. Students draw and group friendly monster parts in a laboratory setting to build a solid conceptual foundation for multiplication.
Tip for Teachers/Parents: To save time, students can cut out strips first, then chop them into square tiles! Keep items in a small cup so they don't roll away off desks.
Cargo Cutter Activity • Cutter Sheet Page 2 of 2
Professor Slime is excited to see your lab work! Slide 5 of 5
Specimen A (Tentacles drawing): Drawings should show 2 separate monsters with 5 tentacles on each. Addition: 5 + 5 = 10. Multiplication: 2 × 5 = 10.
Specimen B (Goofball eyes drawing): Drawings should show 4 heads with 3 eyes on each. Addition: 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12. Multiplication: 4 × 3 = 12.
2 Monster Maker Worksheet • Page 2
Problem 1 (Beaker stands): Groups: 5. Size of group: 3. Equation: 5 × 3 = 15 beakers. Drawing should show 5 groups of 3 elements.
Problem 2 (Fuzzy monster): Groups: 3. Size of group: 6. Equation: 3 × 6 = 18 spots. Drawing should show 3 groups of 6 elements.
Challenge Problem (Spot the Lab Error): Did he still get the same total of 8? Yes. Explanation: "They both have the same total of 8, but 2 groups of 4 means having 2 items with 4 parts each (like 2 monsters with 4 eyes), while 4 groups of 2 means 4 items with 2 parts each (4 monsters with 2 eyes)."
3 Cargo Cutter Activity • Page 1
Jar A (Eyeballs): Glued: 3 separate clusters of 4 eyeballs. Addition: 4 + 4 + 4 = 12. Equation: 3 × 4 = 12 eyes.
Jar B (Slimes): Glued: 5 separate clusters of 2 slimes. Addition: 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 10. Equation: 5 × 2 = 10 slimes.
Jar C (Worms): Glued: 2 separate clusters of 6 worms. Addition: 6 + 6 = 12. Equation: 2 × 6 = 12 worms.
Jar D (Stars): Glued: 4 separate clusters of 3 stars. Addition: 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12. Equation: 4 × 3 = 12 stars.
