Model creating large arrays and breaking them into two smaller arrays to solve a simpler problem

By the end of the lessons students be able to find the area of a rectangle by breaking it into smaller rectangles, discuss how they broke a rectangle into two smaller rectangles. The teacher should record all of the students' suggestions for breaking apart the numbers on the board or a chart. Begin by telling students: One strategy we used when multiplying larger numbers was to break the large number into two smaller numbers. For example, if I wanted to multiply 8 and 7, how could I break apart the 8 to make a simpler problem? How?"