CuisenArea:

An introduction to 'The Distributive Law' using Cuisenaire rods

• Year 4: To solve problems involving multiplying and adding, including using the distributive law to multiply two digit numbers by one digit, integer scaling problems and harder correspondence problems such as n objects are connected to m objects.

1. Look at the cuisenaire rod colour, (multiplicand).
2. How many times, (multiplier).
3. Enter the multiplication fact.
4. Now watch the rods being partitioned.
5. Enter each new smaller amount.
6. Enter the multiplication fact again.
7. You will do this twice for each fact, (unless it's really small).
8. After 5 rounds you will play an Asteroids-style reward game.
9. The game uses the partitions used so far.
10. Repeat the game.

Have fun!