Repeated addition activities in 2nd grade are the best way for students to work with equal groups to gain the foundation for multiplication. In third grade is when students will actually use the multiplication symbol and memorize multiplication. But in 2nd grade, we are just setting the foundation. We are only using repeated addition. Students are discovering the meaning behind multiplication so that they can be successful in 3rd grade.

 

 

The Common Core Standard for 2nd grade 2.OA.C4 says, “Use addition to find the total number of objects arranged in rectangular arrays with up to 5 rows and 5 columns; write an equation to express the total as a sum of equal addends.”

 

So how are we going to teach repeated addition in 2nd grade? We are going to use arrays.

 

I first want to share how I introduce arrays, then I’ll share my repeated addition activities that set the foundation for multiplication. 

 

Repeated Addition Equal Groups

I use display pages to first introduce arrays. These are like slides that make the lesson very visual. They also guide me and walk me through the lesson. The first display page shows a simple array. I ask students what they notice about the dots.

 

 

What I want them to notice is that the dots are arranged in columns and rows. The next slide circles a row and circles a column so that this is really clear for students. I also give students the definition of an array at this time. An array is a group of objects set in equal rows and columns. The key word there is “equal.”

 

Then it’s time to practice using repeated addition to find how many objects are in an array. I show another array. This time the slide has an equation frame for rows and for columns. I ask students to tell me how many dots are in the first row. We put that number in the equation. I ask them how many are in the next row. We put that number in the equation. I help students get all the way down the rows so that our equation is complete.

 

Then I ask students what they notice about the equation. Students can see that we are adding the same number over and over again. I tell students that this is what we call repeated addition. We see that same number repeating in the addition equation. To solve the equation, I help students use doubles facts to add and get the answer. Learn more about how I teach doubles facts in this blog post here.

 

Then we follow this same process for the columns equation. I ask students how many dots are in the first column. We record that number in our equation. I ask students how many dots are in the second column. We record that number in our equation. We continue this until our equation is complete. Then we add all the numbers using doubles facts.

 

Then students see that we got the same answer! I tell students that this makes sense. It’s just 2 ways to see how many objects are in the array. We can solve using rows or columns. When we use both ways, it helps us check the answer. They should be the same!

 

We practice another problem like this, but this time there’s not equation frames. Students just have to write out the equations for rows and columns to solve.

 

Then I want to show students how we can solve array word problems by drawing out the arrays. My next display page gives us this word problem, “Anna arranges her flowers in 3 rows. She places 2 flowers in each row. How many flowers does Anna have in all?”

 

If the array word problem talks about rows, we can draw long ovals for our rows. The problem says Anna makes 3 rows, so we draw 3 ovals stacked on top of each other. Then we need to know how many to fill in each row. If we review the word problems, we see that she places 2 flowers in each row. So we fill in 2 dots in each row.

 

From there we can get our repeated addition equation. Since the word problem talked about rows and we drew rows, we use the rows equation to get the answer.

 

We practice a few more array word problems together. Then students are ready to get their own practice with repeated addition activities.

 

Repeated Addition Activities

I first get students practice with repeated addition and arrays worksheets. These worksheets follow the same format as the practice problems we did together on the display pages. So students know exactly what to do. I may give them one worksheet as I walk around, monitoring students’ work. At this time, I’m taking a mental note of common mistakes or misconceptions. Then I call students’ attention back and I go over those mistakes and misconceptions.

 

 

Then I give students another worksheet. This time I wait over at our classroom table. Students complete this worksheet by themselves. When they are finished, they line up by me and I check their work with them. I’m able to quickly help them fix any mistakes. This gives students immediate feedback! Find these repeated addition and arrays worksheets here.

 

Then I partner students up and have them do a couple more repeated addition activities. These ones are more interactive and gamified!

 

Repeated Addition Interactive Games

 

Repeated Addition Scoot Activity

The first of the two repeated addition interactive games, is a repeated addition scoot activity. I tape up task cards around the classroom. These task cards have pictures of arrays on them. Students take their recording sheet to the different task cards and use repeated addition to solve how many dots are in each array.

 

 

I like students working with a partner on this activity because students can support each other. It also gets them talking to each other about math. Students are naturally sharing their reasoning out loud! As I walk around, I hear students say things like “Okay, let’s write the column equation. There are 5 dots in each column!” Hearing things like this makes my teacher heart happy!

 

Students find this scoot activity so engaging. They love being up and out of their seats. Since they are searching around the classroom for the different task cards, it makes this activity feel more like a game! Find this repeated addition scoot activity to use with your students here.

 

When students are finished, I have them check their own work with an answer key I have set out. This gives students immediate feedback. Then I have them do a repeated addition puzzle activity with that same partner.

 

Repeated Addition Puzzle Activity

Students grab a puzzle set and then find a place on the floor to spread out all the pieces. Each set has a picture of an array, its rows equation, and its columns equation. Students match up all the arrays with their equations.

 

 

Students love how this is hands-on and interactive. They work together with their partner to count how many dots are in the rows and columns so that they can find the correct equations.

 

When students have all the sets layed out and matched up, they raise their hands. I come over and do a quick look over their work. This allows me to help them fix any mistakes and to clear up any misconceptions. Then students mix up the pieces and stack them up. That way they are ready for the next set of students.

 

After that, I want to really check students’ understanding with arrays and repeated addition. So as a way to finish our repeated addition lesson, I have them complete an exit ticket. This ticket has students rate themselves on how they think they understood the lesson. Then they answer a couple questions. I look at these after school and take note of students who could use some extra practice during centers.

 

And that is how I teach repeated addition to my 2nd grade students. It comes down to introducing arrays in a very visual way. I like to do this with display pages. Then I get students plenty of practice with repeated addition activities. These include repeated addition and arrays worksheets and repeated addition interactive games.

 

I hope this blog post has been helpful and that it has given you ideas on repeated addition activities. When we teach repeated addition in an effective way, we set the foundation for multiplication. Soon students will be ready for 3rd grade and they will master their multiplication facts with ease.