Calculating with Arrays

If your Year 1 or Year 2 students are beginning to explore multiplication, our free Calculating with Arrays worksheet is a great way to help them visualise equal groups and understand how multiplication works.

This two-page resource focuses on interpreting and calculating with arrays—an essential concept in early multiplication learning.

What’s in the Worksheet?

Page 1: Understanding the Array: Students are shown an array and asked to describe what they see by completing three simple sentences:

• There are ___ rows.

• There are ___ columns.

• Altogether there are ___.

This encourages students to count accurately, recognise structure, and begin to understand how arrays represent repeated groups.

Page 2: Calculating with Arrays: Students use each array to complete two number sentences:

• A repeated addition sentence (e.g. 2 rows of 4 = ___)

• A multiplication sentence (e.g. 2 × 4 = ___)

This helps students make clear connections between repeated addition and multiplication.

Why Use This Worksheet?

• Reinforces key concepts in a visual, hands-on way

• Supports students in moving from concrete arrays to abstract equations

• Builds understanding of multiplication as equal groups

• Suitable for classroom use, homework, or independent revision

A Helpful Tool for Early Multiplication

Learning to multiply starts with recognising patterns and making sense of equal groups. This worksheet is designed to guide students step by step as they build confidence with arrays and begin writing multiplication sentences.

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Download your free copy of Calculating with Arrays and give your students the tools they need to succeed in early maths.