Math Activity: Use Cereal Squares to Create Arrays

Create Arrays with Cereal Squares by This Little Home of Mine

An array is simply an arrangement of something, and I love to provide tangible objects for my kids to arrange in such a way that they can SEE math happening right in front of them!

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Math Activity: Use Cereal Squares to Create Arrays

For example, these cereal squares were arranged in such a way that they show how two rows of five equal ten – or five columns of two equal ten.

Create Arrays with Cereal Squares by This Little Home of Mine

In our homeschooling, we begin using arrays early on in our learning!

In the preschool years, we began by simply counting the individual items:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Then as we move past the counting stage, we begin talking about the different rows/columns/groups of items – adding them together to find totals:

5 + 5 = 10 

2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 10

It is around this time when we begin talking about counting by – and for this example, counting by 2’s:

2, 4, 6, 8, 10

Beyond that, arrays are fantastic for beginning to explore multiplication and division families:

2 x 5 = 10

5 x 2 = 10

10 ÷ 2 = 5

10 ÷ 5 = 2 

Cereal squares are fun to use, but so are other objects, and literally anything goes: blocks, buttons, beans, toy vehicles, pretend animals – anything!

For example, in the fall, candy pumpkins are fun to use!

Create Arrays with Candy Pumpkins by This Little Home of Mine

In looking at this example, what is your child ready to do?

Count:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Add:

6 + 6 = 12

3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12

4 + 4 + 4 = 12

Count by 3’s:

3, 6, 9, 12

Count by 4’s:

4, 8, 12

Skip Counting Posters Available Here from The Stem Laboratory

 Multiply and Divide:

3 x 4 = 12 

4 x 3 = 12

12 ÷ 4 = 3

 12 ÷ 3 = 4  

Interested in more cereal-themed fun? Access these Free Cereal Box Book Report here:

Cereal Box Book Report Project

Want to read more about our family’s Lifestyle of Homeschooling? Our daily schedule? A look at our week? I would be honored to share with you how we have adopted a lifestyle of living and learning together and how you can do the same with your own family:

Lifestyle Homeschooling by This Little Home of Mine

Lifestyle Homeschooling - This Little Home of MineClick Here for More Details

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