Understanding Associative and Distributive PropertiesUnit of Study: Multiplication / Division Facts and StrategiesGlobal Concept Guide: 2 of 4

Content Development Approximately 2 days should be spent on students

understanding the Associative and Distributive Properties. The Distributive Property will also be addressed GCG 3.

Students will need manipulatives to build a variety of arrays.

During unit please be aware of the misconception that when using the Distributive Property, students may incorrectly break a number into its factors instead of its addends.

Example: 6 X 9 = (6 x 3) + (6 X 3)The student broke apart 9 into two factors, 3 and 3, instead of two addends, such as 3 and 6.

Day 1 The focus of Day 1 is students will be grouping factors to make

multiplication easier (Associative Property).

Example: 2 X (2 X 5)

Students should build arrays and record their models and equations in their journals. (Tip: Have students build on top of journal so they can carry up to front of room to share with class).

Day 2 The focus of Day 2 is students will develop and understanding

of the Distributive Property. Encourage students to use basic facts to break up more

complex problems.

Example:

Enrich/Reteach/Intervention

Reteach- for students struggling with the Associative Property use the Reteach activity on p. 161B. For Distributive Property use Reteach Activity 169B.

Enrich- to extend students in Distributive Property, use E36 (TE170). For Associative Property use E34 (TE 162) or activity on P. 161B.

The activity Party Time can also be used to enrich students.