Arrays and Area Models: Grandma Bea's Garden
Grandma Bea’s Garden is planted in neat rows. Rows of plants make an array: 3 rows of 6 cabbages is 3 × 6 = 18 cabbages. A big garden bed can be split into two smaller beds to make the multiplying easier.
Remember: An area model splits a big rectangle into a tens part and a ones part. A bed of 3 rows of 14 tulips is a 3 × 10 part and a 3 × 4 part: 30 + 12 = 42 tulips.
Magic trick: Draw the rectangle, cut it at the tens, find each little area, and add them up.
Seek and Find
Look carefully at the picture of Grandma Bea’s Garden and find:
- 🥬 Find the cabbage bed. 3 rows of 6 cabbages in the bed: 3 × 6 = 18 cabbages. Grandma Bea is planting one more!
- 🥗 Find the lettuce bed with a path across it. 2 rows of 4 on one side and 2 rows of 3 on the other: 2 × 4 + 2 × 3 = 8 + 6 = 14 lettuces, the same as 2 × 7.
- 🌸 Find the plant stand. 4 shelves of 5 flower pots: 4 × 5 = 20 flower pots.
- 🐱 Millie and her kitten Biscuit are hiding in every picture. Can you spot them?