If students already know this algorithm, they will still be required to develop other strategies. If they do not know the standard algorithm, the text does not direct them to learn it. Instead, the program encourages students to select their own strategies, but those that are emphasized are often based on partial products. These clusters are designed to lead to partial product solutions. They are asked questions about how knowing one product can help them find another.
Students work in pairs and then share a few strategies.
Next 18x5 is added to the list and students are asked how 20x5 and 2x5 can help to find 18x5. In the next activity, students work in pairs on various clusters always trying to solve the last product in the cluster. A second, more difficult, student sheet is optional. In the next activity, students work in pairs to list products that could help solve 34x25. Additional problems are optional.