Which activity would best help students understand the concept of multiplication using calculators?

The activity of having students type both 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 and 8 x 5 into the calculator is particularly effective for helping them understand the concept of multiplication. This approach allows students to directly compare the two operations: repeated addition versus multiplication. By finding both results, students can see that 8 x 5 produces the same answer as adding 8 together five times.

This hands-on activity reinforces the foundational principle that multiplication is, in essence, a shorthand method for repeated addition. As students actively engage with the calculator by inputting these operations, they are likely to develop a deeper conceptual understanding of how multiplication functions. Moreover, discussing these results with peers allows for clarification and reinforcement of these concepts, thereby enhancing their overall comprehension.

This activity effectively bridges the gap between manual calculations and using calculators, making it a suitable choice for demonstrating basic multiplication principles in a modern context.