Picture a bakery tray of fresh buns. There are 3 rows, and each row holds 5 buns. How many buns are on the whole tray? And here is the real question: is there a quicker way to find out than pointing at each bun one at a time?

Look at each array of coloured tiles on the interactive. Read every array two ways with me, as repeated addition, then as a multiplication. Keep your eye on the last pair: the same tiles, but turned.

Today we build arrays together on the board and read each one two ways. We will do 4 rows of 3, then turn it to 3 rows of 4; then 2 rows of 6, then turn it to 6 rows of 2. Each time, build it, read the repeated addition aloud, then say the multiplication and check the total.

Now we outline rectangles on squared paper and count the squares to find each product. Work these in order, each one a little bigger: a 2-by-6 rectangle, then a 3-by-6, then a 3-by-8, then a 4-by-6. For each rectangle, count the squares inside, then write the matching multiplication. Watch for the pair that share the same total.