Year 3 Multiplication and Division Lesson Plan (Times Tables)
Free Year 3 maths lesson plan on multiplication and division using the 2, 3, 4 and 8 times tables. Starter, main activity, differentiation, and plenary.
Learning objective
I can recall and use multiplication and division facts for the 2, 3, 4 and 8 times tables.
Key vocabulary
- multiply
- divide
- product
- factor
- times table
Curriculum: National Curriculum 2014: Year 3 Mathematics — Multiplication and division
Starter (5-10 minutes)
Times-table tennis: pair pupils up. One pupil calls a multiplication fact from the 4× table, the other answers, then reverses. Two minutes per pair. Reveal target — by the end of the lesson, all pupils should answer any 4× fact within three seconds.
Main activity (35-40 minutes)
Use arrays and bar models to show the link between multiplication and division (e.g. 4 × 6 = 24, so 24 ÷ 4 = 6 and 24 ÷ 6 = 4). Pupils complete a fact-family worksheet generating four related facts from each starting array. Progress to a word-problem set: 'Three buses each carry 8 pupils. How many pupils in total? If 24 pupils need to share equally between 8 buses, how many in each?' Use the link between × and ÷ explicitly throughout.
Differentiation
Support
Use arrays with counters or printed grids. Focus on 2× and 4× before moving to 3× and 8×. Provide a partial fact-family scaffold.
Core
Generate complete fact families for 2×, 3×, 4× and 8× facts. Apply to one-step word problems.
Stretch
Solve missing-number problems (e.g. ___ × 4 = 32) and two-step problems combining a multiplication and a division step.
Plenary (5-10 minutes)
Display 32. Pupils write down as many fact families as they can in two minutes (e.g. 4 × 8 = 32, 8 × 4 = 32, 32 ÷ 8 = 4, 32 ÷ 4 = 8). Discuss strategies.
Common misconception to watch for
Pupils sometimes treat × and ÷ as separate operations rather than inverse pairs. Use arrays repeatedly to make the inverse relationship visible.
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Generate this lesson freeFrequently asked questions
What is the learning objective of this Year 3 maths lesson?
I can recall and use multiplication and division facts for the 2, 3, 4 and 8 times tables.
How long does this multiplication and division (2, 3, 4, 8 times tables) lesson take?
60 minutes, structured into a starter, main activity, and plenary. Differentiation guidance is included for support, core, and stretch learners.
Is this lesson plan free to download?
Yes. The full plan is free to read and adapt. You can also generate an editable, fully resourced version in TAyumira's free lesson planner — no credit card required.
Does this lesson cover the UK National Curriculum?
Yes. This plan aligns with National Curriculum 2014: Year 3 Mathematics — Multiplication and division.
Can I edit this lesson plan for my class?
Yes. Use this as a template and adapt to your class context. To save typing time, generate a customised version in TAyumira's free planner — your class size, ability range, and lesson length are factored in automatically.