Also see: Multiplication pathfinder

1. One Penny Doubled Daily!
This two-day lesson plan uses the book One Grain of Rice, by Demi, to get third
graders excited about learning multiplication.
Subject Math
Topic Introduction to multiplication, Operations and Algebraic Thinking
Objectives ODE Academic Content Standards:
3.OA.1
Interpret products of whole numbers, e.g., interpret 5x7 as the total
number of objects in 5 groups of 7 objects each.
3.OA.9
Identify arithmetic patterns (including patterns in the addition table or
multiplication table), and explain them using properties of operations.
Procedures Day One:
1. Begin by asking the class for ideas about what kinds of jobs they can
do to earn extra money. Choose a job that can be done daily, like
walking a dog. Next, ask if the class would rather receive $2.00 per day
for their dog walking business or one penny per day, doubled every day
for 30 days.
2. Read One Grain of Rice to the class to illustrate how quickly doubling
something repeatedly can result in a large product. Explain that a
product is the result of multiplying two numbers.
3. Again ask the class if they would rather receive $2.00 per day or one
penny per day, doubled every day for 30 days. Explain that the job would

2. pay over $10 thousand dollars in pennies compared to just $60 dollars if
earning $2.00 per day. Access The MegaPenny Project and use the one
billion pennies page to show your students a graphical representation of
how much space one billion pennies would take up.
4. As homework, pass out the “Doubling in One Grain of Rice by Demi”
worksheet that can be accessed at Learn NC. Ask students to use
addition to find the products for each day on the chart and answer the
questions at the bottom of the page. Explain that they will add each
number to itself to find the product for the next day. Calculators are
allowed.
5. Inform the class that you will show them how to find the same answers
using multiplication during the next class. This will allow a transition into
explaining multiplication by two.
Day Two:
1. Have the students get their “Doubling in One Grain of Rice by Demi”
worksheet out before starting the discussion so that they can reference
their answers.
2. Introduce the concept of multiplying each product by 2 to produce the
same answers that adding the product to itself did. Explain that having
two groups of a certain number represents the same product as adding
one group to another identical group. Work through the Add and Multiply
worksheet together as a group.
3. Use physical manipulatives or the two-color counters at
eManipulatives with the class to reinforce visually the concept that
groups can be added or multiplied to produce a product. Starting with 12
counters, model that, like addition, groups can be combined in different
ways to result in the same product. Ask the students to come up with
ways to model 12 other than 2 groups of 6.
4. For homework, give each student the The Two Times Table
worksheet.
 This website provides additional links to virtual manipulatives and
interactive math resources.
 The attached Pathfinder lists websites with activities that are
appropriate for students. Some of the activities allow the student to
select which multiples they would like to practice, others do not.

3. Evaluation CATEGORY 4 3 2 1
Participation Student was Student was Student Student did
and Attention an engaged an engaged cooperated not work
during partner, partner but with others, effectively with
Lesson listening to had trouble but needed others.
suggestions of listening to prompting to
others and others and/or stay on-task.
working working
cooperatively cooperatively
throughout
lesson.
Worksheet All problems All but one of All but two of Several of the
completion: are completed. the problems the problems problems are
“Doubling in are completed. are completed. not completed.
One Grain of
Rice”
Use of Student Student Student Student rarely
Manipulatives always listens typically sometimes listens and
and follows listens and listens and often "plays"
directions and follows follows with the
only uses directions and directions and manipulatives
manipulatives uses uses instead of
as instructed. manipulatives manipulatives using them as
as instructed appropriately instructed.
most of the when
time. reminded.
Worksheet All problems All but one of All but two of Several of the
completion: are completed. the problems the problems problems are
“The Two are completed. are completed. not completed.
Times Table”
Materials Day One: A copy of One Grain of Rice by Demi, a computer with
projector or smart board to display the MegaPenny Project website,
copies of the “Doubling in One Grain of Rice by Demi” worksheet for
each student, and calculators and pencils if the worksheet is to be done
in class.
Day Two: Physical manipulatives or a computer with a projector or smart
board to model eManipulatives, the Add and Multiply worksheet, the two
times table worksheet, and pencils.