Minds in Bloom is happy to introduce Lauren from Mrs. Thompson’s Treasures with her post on how to get students to have fun while practicing their multiplication. Enjoy!
Multiplication is one of those skills in math that kids really will use almost every day of their lives. Thankfully, it’s also a skill that can be practiced in many fun ways. Here are some great ideas for learning about and practicing multiplication facts that will have your students engaged and having fun!
1) Picture Books
There are some great picture books available that can explain multiplication and show how it is useful in real life situations. Here are a few:
Amanda Bean’s Amazing Dream by Cindy Neuschwander
Breakfast at Danny’s Diner by Judith Stamper
Minnie’s Diner: A Multiplying Menu by Dayle Ann Dodds
2) Multiplication War
Get a deck of cards (you can take out kings, queens, and jacks, or use them for numbers 11-13 if you want) and split the deck between two people. Each person turns over a card at the same time. The first person to correctly say the product of the two numbers gets to keep the cards.
3) Roll, Multiply, & Color
Anything you can do with dice is always a hit! Click HERE to get this free worksheet to have students roll two dice, find the product, and color in the number on the page. My kids love using dot markers, but crayons or regular markers work great, too!
4) Domino Game
This game is ideal for 2-4 players. Turn a set of dominoes face down. Each person draws one domino and multiplies the two sides together. The person with the highest number gets to keep all the dominoes. If there is a tie, draw again. Keep going until all the dominoes have been drawn! The winner is the person with the most dominoes.
5) Mystery Pictures
Kids LOVE mystery pictures! I’ve created some super fun multiplication mystery pictures that kids always enjoy completing! Visit my TPT store to get this cute superhero freebie!
6) Multiplication Basketball
In real basketball baskets are two points each, so try playing by 3s, 4s, 5s, or whatever number you are studying.
7) Beach Ball Toss
Get a big beach ball and use a permanent marker to write numbers 1-10 (or 12 if you are learning those multiples) all over. Toss it to a student and have them multiply the numbers that are closest to their index fingers. Then, they toss it to another person.
8) Popsicle Stick Multiples
Write the multiples of a number on popsicle sticks and have students put them in order. Put each group in baggies to keep them separate, and have one popsicle stick be the title (for example: “I Can Count by 3s”).
9) Around the Room Multiples
Get in a circle and have students recite off the multiples of a number. Make it a competition by having several small circles and see who can do it the fastest.
10) Roll, Multiply, Graph
This is another fun dice activity that helps students see how different factors can multiply together to get the same product. You could even make this a fun class activity, where each student rolls the dice once and you graph the class results. Click HERE to get this free page!
11) Multiplication Memory Match
Make a memory game using index cards or construction paper. Cut small squares from the paper (laminate if you’d like), and write factors on half the cards (ex: 4 x 5) and products on the other half (ex: 20). You can do all the multiples of one number, or mix it up for review! Put all the cards face down and have partners play the game by turning two cards over to try and make a match.
I hope this list has given you some tools to use with your students and inspired you to get creative and make learning FUN!
I’m Lauren from Mrs. Thompson’s Treasures! I currently stay home with my kids (ages 6, 4, 2, and 1) and homeschool. I have had three years of classroom experience as a 3rd grade teacher in a public school, and several years of teaching English overseas. I love finding and creating teaching treasures that are fun, engaging, and help all students feel successful!
I’m Lauren from Mrs. Thompson’s Treasures! I currently stay home with my kids (ages 6, 4, 2, and 1) and homeschool. I have had three years of classroom experience as a 3rd grade teacher in a public school, and several years of teaching English overseas. I love finding and creating teaching treasures that are fun, engaging, and help all students feel successful!
