Multiplication & Division

In Year 4, pupils deepen their understanding of multiplication and division, building confidence and fluency with both mental and written strategies. These skills support later learning in fractions, problem-solving, and multi-step reasoning.

Key Learning Objectives

1. Secure Times Tables Knowledge (up to 12 × 12)

• Pupils work towards confidently recalling multiplication facts up to 12 × 12.

• They learn to use known facts to derive new ones, such as using 4 × 6 to solve 8 × 6 by doubling.

2. Understand Multiplication and Division Concepts

Children explore the meaning of both operations through:

• Arrays

• Equal groups

• Number lines

• Sharing and grouping models

They learn that:

• Multiplication increases amounts through equal groups.

• Division shares or groups amounts into equal parts.

3. Use a Range of Mental Strategies

Pupils develop quick, efficient methods, such as:

• Doubling and halving

• Using number bonds

• Partitioning numbers into tens and ones

• Using facts they already know to solve more challenging calculations

4. Develop Written Methods

Children begin to apply more formal strategies, including:

• Grid method for multiplication

• Short division (with and without remainders)

• Partitioning to break numbers into manageable chunks

These methods help them solve larger calculations with confidence.

5. Solve Problems Using Multiplication and Division

Pupils apply their skills to real-life and word problems, including:

• Money (e.g., equal amounts shared or multiplied)

• Measures (scaling recipes or quantities)

• Grouping items and interpreting remainders

• Multi-step problems that require choosing the correct operation

6. Understand the Relationship Between the Two Operations

Children learn to use inverse operations to check their answers.
For example:
If 7 × 8 = 56, then 56 ÷ 8 = 7.

This helps reinforce number relationships and supports accuracy.

How You Can Support at Home

Practise Times Tables Regularly

Quick recall helps hugely with written methods. Short, daily practice is most effective.

Use Real-Life Maths

Examples include:

• Sharing food equally

• Scaling recipes

• Counting items in equal groups

• Working out multiples (e.g., “How many 5s make 45?”)

Play Games

Games, apps, flashcards, and chanting can make practice fun and less repetitive.

Encourage Reasoning

Ask questions like:

• “How do you know?”

• “Is there another way to solve it?”

• “Does your answer make sense?”

By the end of this unit, pupils will have strengthened their confidence and fluency in multiplication and division, enabling them to apply these skills across all areas of mathematics with growing independence.