Formal Multiplication

These challenging 'Formal Multiplication' lessons for Year 5 are packed full of strategies and resources to help children learn to solve multiplication calculations. They will use the grid method, expanded method, and both short and long multiplication to solve increasingly challenging multiplication problems, relating the methods to one another to spot similarities and differences. There are lots of fun activities and investigations to keep them engaged too!

With helpful slides for the teaching input, detailed lesson plans, differentiated activities and a range of printable resources, this KS2 'Formal Multiplication' series of lessons has everything you need to get children using a range of strategies with confidence!

The Grid Method

The first lesson in this series recaps how to use the grid method to solve multiplication problems. Starting with two-digit by two-digit calculations, their grids will slowly get larger and more challenging as they solve three-digit by two-digit and even four-digit by two-digit calculations. The slides give plenty of chances to practise as a class, before the main activity challenges them to investigate some ‘sometimes, always or never’ statements. There is also the option to multiply given digits together to reach a target number and a tricky plenary to tackle!

The Expanded Method

This lesson starts by comparing the same calculation that has been solved using both the grid method and the expanded method so children can identify similarities and differences. The slides then go through a step-by-step process for how to solve multiplication questions using the expanded method before challenging children to solve such problems independently. There are also some missing number calculations to solve!

Short Multiplication

This lesson starts by comparing the expanded method and short multiplication method, before recapping how the latter works. Children will go through the step-by-step process on the slides to solve increasingly challenging multiplication problems using short multiplication. Their independent learning activities provide a variety of different ways to practise this method, including solving word problems and matching questions to answers.

Long Multiplication

Moving on from short multiplication, this lesson builds on their understanding of multiplication methods by teaching them how to use the formal long multiplication method. The slides carefully explain each step of the process, giving your class plenty of opportunities to practise this and address any problems or misconceptions. They can then have a go independently to consolidate their understanding.

Solving Problems

Starting with recapping how to solve multiplication problems using long multiplication, your class will then think about all the other methods they have used throughout the week to solve multiplication calculations. The slides then go through some word problems relating to an outdoor retailer, challenging children to work out how much money they shop made through the sale of different items. Children can then tackle some of these problems independently, choosing an appropriate method, or undertake some challenging investigations.