Make multiplication visual and engaging with our Food for Ants: Equal Groups & Rows Multiplication Worksheets. These worksheets give students the chance to practise modelling multiplication by drawing equal groups of food for hungry ants. By connecting repeated addition to multiplication, learners build a strong foundation for understanding how arrays and groupings represent number facts.

Each page prompts students with a multiplication scenario such as “3 groups of 6” or “4 groups of 3.” Learners then draw the food items in equal groups, count the total, and record the product in the sentence frame provided. This hands-on approach helps consolidate the connection between the factors (number of groups and number in each group) and the product (the total). The food theme adds a playful, real-world connection that keeps students motivated.

These worksheets are flexible enough to be used after a shared read-aloud like One Hundred Hungry Ants by Elinor J. Pinczes, during small group lessons, or as independent practice. They are also ideal for maths rotations or homework tasks, encouraging both accuracy and creativity as students illustrate their understanding.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Represent multiplication as equal groups and rows
• ✅ Connect repeated addition to multiplication equations
• ✅ Build fluency with basic facts by modelling them visually
• ✅ Strengthen mathematical language around groups, rows, and totals
• ✅ Develop problem-solving and reasoning skills through hands-on practice

What’s Included:

• Worksheet prompts for drawing equal groups (e.g. 3 groups of 6, 5 groups of 4)
• Sentence frames to record the total for each grouping
• Food-themed illustrations to support engagement and context
• Scaffolded layout that supports independent or guided practice

Materials Needed:

• Printed worksheets
• Pencils, coloured pencils, or markers for drawing groups
• Optional counters or manipulatives to model groupings before drawing
• Write-and-wipe sleeves if reusing worksheets for practice

How to Use:

1. Introduce or review the concept of multiplication as equal groups.
2. Model one example, drawing rows or circles of food and counting the total.
3. Students complete each section by drawing groups and writing the matching product.
4. Encourage learners to check their work by using repeated addition or skip counting.
5. Discuss answers as a class to highlight different ways of representing groups.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use after reading One Hundred Hungry Ants to connect literature to maths
• 💡 Incorporate into maths rotations as an “equal groups” station
• 💡 Provide as a homework task to reinforce classroom learning
• 💡 Encourage students to create their own “food for ants” problems for peers
• 💡 Link to arrays by showing how drawn rows of food can be reorganised into arrays

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Pre-teach the difference between groups and items in each group
• 💛 Have students highlight or colour-code groups to make patterns clear
• 💛 Differentiate by adjusting group sizes or reducing the number of problems per page
• 💛 Display completed worksheets as examples on a maths wall

The Food for Ants: Equal Groups & Rows Multiplication Worksheets are a fun and practical way to consolidate multiplication basics. By drawing, counting, and recording, students strengthen their conceptual understanding while enjoying a playful food-themed activity.