Multiplication and Division on a Number Line Task Cards

Product description

From the author

One of the ares students struggle with the most with multiplication is multiplication on a number line. There are 20 task cards in this product, 10 on multiplication and 10 on division. They come in a full color version and printer-friendly black and white version. There is also a student answer sheet and an answer key.

In this product, we follow the idea that a number line is how many jumps x how far each = landing spot. So three large jumps of 5 spaces each is 3x5=15. The way to tell the difference between the multiplication cards and the division cards is the direction of the number line. Pointing to the right is multiplication, pointing to the left is division.

Included is also a link to a digital version for presenting these whole group on a screen/projector, or for paperless or virtual classrooms.

These task cards cover the Virginia Math SOL 3.4 The student will a) represent multiplication and division through 10 × 10, using a variety of approaches and models;

The will also cover the 2023 Virginia Math SOL 3.CE.2 The student will recall with automaticity multiplication and division facts through 10 × 10; and represent, solve, and justify solutions to single-step contextual problems using multiplication and division with whole numbers. a)Represent multiplication and division of whole numbers through 10 × 10, including in a contextual situation, using a variety of approaches and models (e.g., repeated addition/subtraction, equal-sized groups/sharing, arrays, equal jumps on a number line, using multiples to skip count).

Need more multiplication or computation notes? Check these out:

Solving Word Problems (VA SOL 3.3)

Multiplication and Division (VA SOL 3.4)

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In the classroom

Teaching tips & learning objectives

Learning objectives

Read equal jumps on a number line as a multiplication fact, counting how many jumps and how far each one travels
Connect a multiplication fact to its matching division fact, recognising 3 × 6 = 18 and 18 ÷ 3 = 6 as the same picture
Record twenty answers in order on a numbered sheet while moving between cards

Teaching tips

Run the twenty cards as a scoot: the recording sheet is numbered 1 to 20, so students only need the card number to know which box to fill in.
Pair card 1 with card 11, card 4 with card 14 and so on for a fact-family discussion; each division card reuses the numbers of the multiplication card ten places earlier.
Point out that the number lines are not all the same length — some stop at 10, others run to 21, 22 or 29 — so students must read the scale before counting jumps.

Skills covered

Number-line models of multiplication — students count equal jumps and jump size to name facts such as 5 × 4 = 20 and 9 × 2 = 18.
Number-line models of division — the same jump pattern read as equal-jump division gives 20 ÷ 4 = 5 and 18 ÷ 9 = 2 on the second half of the deck.
Inverse-operation reasoning — every division card restates a multiplication card from earlier in the deck, so students meet both directions of the same fact.

Good to know

Questions teachers ask about this resource

How do the multiplication cards and the division cards relate to each other?

They are the same ten facts read twice. Card 1 gives 3 × 6 = 18 and card 11 gives 18 ÷ 3 = 6; card 5 gives 7 × 3 = 21 and card 15 gives 21 ÷ 7 = 3. Any card in the second half restates the card ten places earlier, which makes the deck usable as a fact-family set as well as two separate practices.

Are all twenty number lines the same length?

No — they are scaled to the fact. Several run 0 to 21, one runs 0 to 22, several stretch to 29, and cards 7, 8, 17 and 18 use a short 0-to-10 line for the small facts (2 × 1, 1 × 5 and their inverses). Students have to check the scale before counting jumps.

What does a student write down while working the cards?

A recording sheet numbered 1 to 20 in two columns with a name line at the top travels with them, so answers are written by card number rather than on the cards themselves and the cards stay reusable.