Multiplication & Division Project Based Learning Math Activity

This Community Garden PBL activity will have your students digging into math without actually getting their hands dirty. As they work their way through a number of problems related to planting a community garden their understanding of multiplication and division will blossom and grow.

In this activity, the family decides to set aside part of their land for a community garden. Students are tasked with planning the garden, growing crops, and selling produce at the local farmer’s market–all jobs which rely on cultivating some serious math skills.

Project-based learning puts students in the heart of the garden to keep them actively engaged in learning. In this resource, students will use their knowledge of multiplication and division strategies, including: arrays, number lines, repeated addition and subtraction, equal groups, tape diagrams, and skip counting to calculate the number of plants, crop yields, and profits. They will also be practicing even and odd, the commutative property, and solving word problems to maximize earnings. But they’ll be so excited to harvest the fruits (and veggies) of their labors, they won’t even realize they are practicing math.

This PBL activity is also included in our Third Grade Math Curriculum: Unit 5 Division. If you’ve already purchased Unit 5 or the yearlong bundle you already have this activity.

What’s Inside:

• 5 different garden-themed multiplication and division activities
• Color and black and white versions
• An answer key
• Detailed teacher directions

Skills covered:

• Multiplication
• Division
• Arrays
• Repeated addition
• Repeated subtraction
• Number lines
• Tape diagrams
• Skip counting
• Equal groups
• Even/odd
• Word problems
• Commutative property

How to use this resource:

There are a variety of ways to use this resource in the classroom:

• Use as a whole group activity at the end of your multiplication and division unit and complete the entire PBL as a review
• Use one activity a day to begin reviewing near the end of your multiplication and division
• Place activities in student math centers
• Assign to students to complete individually 
• Allow students to work together or in a small group
• When using the colored version, print just a few copies and laminate or slide into page protectors. Students can use an expo marker to complete the activities and you’ll have the activity for years.
• Use during your guided-math groups to provide extra support to students.
• This resource is best used after you have taught multiplication and division.

Time to Complete:

This activity should take between 45-60 minutes, depending on the skill level of your students and whether or not they are working in groups.

FAQs

Q: Do students complete this activity individually or in groups?

A: That’s up to you! PBL activities are great for collaboration, however, you can choose to allow students to work on this individually as well.

Q: How can I use the colored version in class without wasting ink?

A; The colored version is great if your students are working in pairs or small groups. Print and laminate the colored pages and have students use expo markers to record their answers. When they are done, they can erase their marks and you can reuse the pages over and over again.

Q: Is there a digital version of this activity?

A: I’m sorry. There is not a digital version of this activity. 

This PBL is also included in:

Third Grade Math Curriculum: Unit 5 Division

Math Project-Based Learning Bundle for 3rd Grade

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