Grouping/Sharing Mats – Clouds

Grouping/Sharing Mats – Clouds

These “Clouds” Grouping/Sharing Mats are fantastic for helping children develop an understanding of the concepts of multiplication and division. Present these mats with a collection of manipulatives (small objects) for the children to use to make equal groups (multiplication) or share out objects equally (division).

Features:

* This set only goes up to 5 clouds (not to 10 like most of the grouping/sharing mats).

* Can be used for both grouping (multiplication) and sharing (division).

* Can be used for multiple ability levels/age groups, depending on whether you use them just for sharing/grouping or whether you add recording or reading equations.

* Laminate for longevity and reuse over and over.

Ideas for Use:

* Little unicorns or rainbows go really well with the clouds as manipulatives.

* Grouping: Make up a little story with the children about what they are doing eg. The unicorns are plying a game and they have to make equal groups on the clouds to play. You may like to ask them questions such as “How many clouds are there?”, “How many unicorns are on each cloud?”, “Do they all have the same amount?” “How many unicorns are there altogether?”.

* Sharing: Start with an initial amount of unicorns eg. 10, then the mat provides the number of clouds they need to share those 10 unicorns between. How many unicorns are on each? Are there any left over?

* If the child/children are ready for beginning to record what they are doing, you can use a whiteboard for them to write eg. 3x5=15 or 10÷2=5. You could also use our multiplication or division cards to give the student an equation to make on the mat.

Tip! While the children are developing an understanding of what they are doing, use words like “shared between” or “groups of” rather than “divided by” or “times” as they make it easier for them to understand the concept.

If the child/children are ready to start recording, we have multiplication mats with the recording written on them (eg. 6 groups of _ =_). You can laminate them or put them in a dry erase pouch for the children to record with dry erase markers. They can be reused over and over again!

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For best results, print using “high quality” print settings and good quality paper (higher gsm) or card (check your printer’s specifications for how high a gsm it can print with).