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Parent guide · Grade 3 Math · Unit 5

Lesson 5.4 Distributive Property as a Strategy

Written for the parent. Read the Say this lines aloud as they are, or in your own words. Answers for you are marked Listen for.

At a glance

Time
5 sessions of 25–30 minutes
Goal
Break a hard fact into two easy facts.
You need
  • Pencil and crayons
Print
Worksheet A · Worksheet B · the lesson page

Steps

  1. Do this: Ask these out loud. Your child answers out loud; no paper needed.

    • Ask: “9 × 6” Listen for: 54
    • Ask: “7 × 3” Listen for: 21
    • Ask: “7 × 4” Listen for: 28
    • Ask: “8 × 8” Listen for: 64
    • Ask: “8 × 9” Listen for: 72

  2. Say this: “7 × 8 = 7 × 5 + 7 × 3 = 35 + 21 = 56.”

    Say this: “Use tens: 4 × 12 = 4 × 10 + 4 × 2 = 48.”

    Say this: “Distributive property: a × (b + c) = a × b + a × c.”

  3. Show: 2 × 13 = ___

    Say this: “Break apart: 2 = 2 and 13 = 10 + 3”

    Say this: “2 × 10 = 20”

    Say this: “2 × 3 = 6”

    Say this: “20 + 6 = 26”

    Answer: 26

    Show: 3 × 80 = ___

    Say this: “80 = 8 × 10”

    Say this: “3 × 8 = 24”

    Say this: “24 × 10 = 240”

    Answer: 240

  4. Do this: Your child does these with you. Let them try first; help only after a real try.

    Ask: 9 × 7 = ___

    Listen for: 63

    If stuck: Break apart: 9 = 9

    Ask: 9 × 6 = ___

    Listen for: 54

    If stuck: Break apart: 9 = 9

    Ask: 9 × 8 = ___

    Listen for: 72

    If stuck: Break apart: 9 = 9

    7 more practice items on the lesson page, and on Worksheet A and Worksheet B.

    • Splitting both factors.

  6. Each player turns over two cards (1–10) and says the product. Higher product takes all four cards.

  7. Say this: “Tell me what you learned today. Show me with your hands or the counters if you like.”

    Listen for: Break a hard fact into two easy facts.

  8. Fact drill every day for one minute. Goal by the end of the unit: all × facts through 10 × 10 in 3 seconds.

Spread over the week

5 sessions of 25–30 minutes. Stop while it is still going well.

  1. Session 1. Warm-up, then teach the new idea (steps 1 and 2).
  2. Session 2. Warm-up again, then show how with the examples.
  3. Session 3. Practice together, then play the game.
  4. Session 4. More practice on the worksheet, and the daily habit.
  5. Session 5. Quick check: narration and a few practice items. Move on when it is mostly right.