Array Template
Blank dot array to draw on.
An array template is a blank rectangular grid of evenly spaced dots that students draw over, circle, or colour to build visual models of multiplication and division. Each dot represents one unit, and students arrange them into rows and columns to show number facts — for example, 3 rows of 5 dots to represent 3 × 5 = 15. Teachers in grades 1–5 use dot arrays to make the structure of multiplication concrete before students move to abstract fact memorisation. The blank grid accommodates any array up to the template's maximum dimensions, so one sheet can model dozens of different number sentences. Parents find it equally useful at home because the dots give a tactile anchor when practising times tables — students can count, draw lines, and shade directly on the page.
Learning objectives
- Model multiplication as equal groups arranged in rows and columns
- Connect repeated addition to the multiplication number sentence
- Explore the commutative property by rotating the same array (3×5 = 5×3)
- Introduce division by shading part of an array and describing what remains
- Build number sense and fluency with multiplication facts up to 10×10
How to use this template
- Print the blank dot array template on standard paper — one per student for independent practice.
- Decide on the multiplication fact to model (e.g. 4 × 6) and count out the correct number of rows and columns.
- Circle or lightly shade the selected rows and columns to outline the array boundary.
- Write the corresponding number sentence (4 × 6 = 24) alongside the shaded array.
- Repeat with a second fact in a different area of the page, or rotate the array to show the commutative pair.
Classroom & home ideas
- Times-tables exploration: assign each student a different factor pair and have them model it on the array, then display work as a class multiplication gallery.
- Commutative property lesson: ask students to shade 3×7 in blue and 7×3 in red on the same sheet and discuss why both total 21.
- Division introduction: shade a 24-dot rectangle and ask students to split it into equal rows in as many ways as possible (factor pairs of 24).
- Area connection: draw a rectangle outline on the dot grid and count rows × columns to discover that area = length × width.
- Partner game: one student shades a mystery array; the partner writes all possible multiplication and division sentences that describe it.
Skills & curriculum links
Frequently asked questions
How many dots does the template have per row and column?
The standard template provides a 12×12 grid of dots, covering all multiplication facts up to 12×12 on one sheet. Smaller sections of the grid can be used for lower grades working within 5×5 or 10×10.
Can students use the template for division as well as multiplication?
Yes. Shade a total number of dots into a rectangle, then ask how many equal rows fit. The number of columns in each row gives the quotient. For example, 20 dots shaded in 4 rows shows 20 ÷ 4 = 5.
What drawing tools work best on the printed dots?
Coloured pencils or thin markers let students shade arrays clearly without obscuring the dot pattern. Using different colours for each array on the same sheet helps when comparing two facts side by side.
Is this suitable for grade-1 students just starting multiplication?
Yes — in grade 1 the dots serve as a counting scaffold for repeated addition (3 + 3 + 3) before the multiplication symbol is introduced. Students circle groups of dots rather than full rectangular arrays.
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