Every master builder reads the instructions first! Learn these words before you start building. 🧱
✦ Equal Groups
Groups that each hold the same number of items. Like putting the same number of bricks in every building bag!
✦ Factors
The two numbers you multiply together. The first factor = number of groups. The second factor = items in each group.
✦ Product
The answer when you multiply! It's the total number of items across all groups — the final piece count!
✦ The Builder's Formula
Number of Groups × Items in Each Group = Total Items
3 × 4 = 12
✦ Build Day Example
3 × 4 = 12
"3 bags of 4 Lego bricks"
Bag 1 — 4 bricks
Bag 2 — 4 bricks
Bag 3 — 4 bricks
There are 3 bags, with 4 bricks in each.
3 × 4 = 12 bricks in all! 🎉
🧱 Builder's Tip!
1st factor = how many groups |
2nd factor = how many items per group |
Product = total items
Every group must have the same number of items — that's what makes them equal groups!
Time to sort the pieces before building! Look at the multiplication problem and draw equal groups of Lego pieces in the boxes. The first number = how many groups. The second number = how many pieces go in each group!
✦★✦
12 × 3 = ___Draw 2 groups of 3 Lego bricks. Put 3 bricks inside each box!
Group 1 — draw 3 bricks
Group 2 — draw 3 bricks
I drew groups with bricks in each. Total: × =
23 × 4 = ___Draw 3 groups of 4 minifigures. Put 4 minifigs inside each box!
Group 1 — draw 4 minifigs
Group 2 — draw 4 minifigs
Group 3 — draw 4 minifigs
I drew groups with minifigures in each. Total: × =
34 × 2 = ___Draw 4 groups of 2 wheels. Put 2 wheels inside each box!
The Lego pieces are already sorted into groups! Count the groups, count the pieces in each group, then write the multiplication equation and find the total!
Master builders use math every day! Read each problem, write your multiplication equation in the work space, and find the answer. Look for the number of groups and items in each group!
✦★✦
1
Zoe is building a Lego castle. She has 3 bags of bricks. Each bag holds 4 bricks. How many bricks does Zoe have in all?
My Work & Equation
Answer: bricks
2
The toy store has 5 shelves of Lego sets. Each shelf holds 6 sets. How many Lego sets are on the shelves altogether?
My Work & Equation
Answer: sets
3
Jake is building 4 Lego cars. Each car needs 7 wheels. How many wheels does Jake need in all to build all 4 cars?
My Work & Equation
Answer: wheels
4
The Lego club built 3 towers at their after-school build event. Each tower used 8 bricks. How many bricks did they use altogether?
My Work & Equation
Answer: bricks
5
A Lego store display has 8 minifigure sets. Each set comes with 5 minifigures. How many minifigures are there in all?
For teacher or parent use. Award full credit for any drawing in Section A that correctly shows equal groups matching the equation.
✦ Section A — Sort the Bricks (Draw Equal Groups)
1.2 × 3 = 6 (2 groups of 3 bricks)
2.3 × 4 = 12 (3 groups of 4 minifigures)
3.4 × 2 = 8 (4 groups of 2 wheels)
4.5 × 3 = 15 (5 groups of 3 trees)
5.2 × 6 = 12 (2 groups of 6 windows)
6.3 × 5 = 15 (3 groups of 5 flowers)
✦ Section B — Count the Pieces (Write the Equation)
1.3 groups of 4 bricks → 3 × 4 = 12
2.2 groups of 5 minifigures → 2 × 5 = 10
3.3 groups of 3 wheels → 3 × 3 = 9
4.2 groups of 4 trees → 2 × 4 = 8
5.3 groups of 2 windows → 3 × 2 = 6
6.3 groups of 4 flowers → 3 × 4 = 12
✦ Section C — Brick Builder Word Problems
1.3 × 4 = 12 bricks
2.5 × 6 = 30 sets
3.4 × 7 = 28 wheels
4.3 × 8 = 24 bricks
5.8 × 5 = 40 minifigures
Standards alignment: 3.OA.A.1 — Interpret products of whole numbers as the total number of objects in equal groups. Section A grading: Full credit if the drawing shows the correct number of groups, the correct number of items per group, and the equation is complete. Partial credit if groups or item count (but not both) are correct. Watch for: Students sometimes reverse factors. Both orders are valid (Commutative Property), but 3.OA.A.1 emphasizes the first factor as the number of groups.