Author:
Out Teach
Subject:
Mathematics
Material Type:
Lesson Plan
Level:
Lower Primary, Upper Primary
Grade:
3
Tags:
  • Area
  • Arrays
  • Customary
  • Math
  • Measurements and Data
  • Metric
  • Multiplication
  • Numbers and Operations in Base 10
  • Out Teach
  • Raised Bed
  • Vegetable Bed
  • License:
    Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike
    Language:
    English
    Media Formats:
    Text/HTML

    Education Standards

    Veggie Bed Multiplication -- Out Teach

    Veggie Bed Multiplication -- Out Teach

    Overview

    How can we use area and multiplication to measure the amount of space an area has?

    Students will explore the concepts of multiplication and area by measuring rectangular planting beds in the garden.

    Background for Teachers

    Out Teach logo

    Raised beds work very well for this lesson, but any rectangular planting area can work. If your school does not have such an area, you can simply outline areas in the grass/dirt with string, or have the students complete this part as an extra task for measurement. Try to ensure that students can measure in foot-long units for simplicity, but students in need of a challenge can convert to inches. The calculations behind this activity are meant to be simple to ensure that students can easily visualize the ideas behind area and multiplication. This activity has many possible "real-life" applications that can be applied such as determining planting space, mulching, organic fertilizer or compost applications, etc.

    Ensure that the rectangular spaces are set up and free of any obstacles for students to measure. Have a premade piece of chart paper or white board with square feet draw on it for the Explain section of this lesson

    Key Vocabulary

    • Square Feet

    • Factors

    • Product

    • Length

    • Width

    • Dimensions

    • Unit of measurement

    • Array

    Guiding Questions

    How can a gardener or farmer use square footage to plant crops?

    How can we use area and multiplication to measure the amount of space an area has?

    Engage

    Ask:  How many carrots can be planted in one raised bed/rectangular garden space that they can see from where they are sitting.

    Allow students to make guesses. Have the correct answer ready. Inform them that gardeners and farmers can figure this out by using multiplication

     

    Explore

    Have students work in teams and give them time to measure the square feet in the rectangular spaces.

    If students do not understand how to measure square feet, that is okay. You can choose to guide here, or use their misunderstandings to explain in the next section.

    Ensure that they are measuring in foot-long dimensions unless otherwise instructed.

    You can choose to group students so that some are converting inches to feet for a bigger challenge.

    Remind students that their task is to determine how many one-foot squares can fit inside the beds and try not to give them more information before they get started.

    Ask students to record the data in their journals.

    Explain

    Gather students and have them share the data they recorded.

    Create a visual on the board/chart paper showing the rectangular space broken into individual squares. Explain the dimensions of the bed, the space broken into square feet, how we calculate area and the method of using repeated addition to multiply.

    Some students may not need to make the connection from repeated addition to multiplication but it is important to show this step.

     

    Elaborate

    Have students find another rectangular area in the garden and try to repeat the task with the new dimensions.

    Evaluate

    Explain to students that they can grow different numbers of vegetables in each square and have them practice multiplication facts by drawing out arrays if needed. For example, if you can grow 2 cabbages in one square foot, how many can you grow in 6 square feet?

    Extension and Connections

    The students can work out many different kinds of word problems/activities using spatial dimensions that involve area. How much mulch would we need to buy for this space? Which space has the larger area? Etc.

    Or

    Students could use a planting chart from square foot gardening resources to determine the number of a variety of plants that would fit in a specific square foot area.