Send Your Kids on a Multiplication Scavenger Hunt

Multiplication problems are hiding all around the classroom, just waiting to be discovered by your students. Next time your class is feeling restless, and you just can’t bear to make them do another set of math problems, give everyone a clipboard (or every pair–this would be a terrific activity to do with a partner) and challenge them to find and solve as many multiplication problems as they can. The problems can be hard to find, so encourage your students to look carefully and to use their imaginations.

Here are two examples:

Fingers:
There are 26 people in the classroom. Each person has eight fingers (not including thumbs).
26 people x 8 fingers
26 x 8Chair legs:
There are 32 chairs in the classroom. Each chair has four legs.
32 chairs x 4 legs
32 x 4Other ideas include

• Clocks x numbers on each clock (if you have more than one)
• Windows x window panes in each window
• Bins x sides on each bin
• Dice x dots on each die
• Kleenex boxes x corners on each box
• Blue triangle pattern blocks x sides on each triangle
• Shirts x sleeves on each shirt
• Doors x door knobs on each door (both sides)
• Cabinets x shelves in each cabinet
• Coat closets x hooks in each closet
• Ceiling lights x number of panels on each light cover
• Crickets or other classroom pets x number of legs
• Gold stars x number of points on each star
• Birthday cakes (on birthday poster) x number of candles on each cake
• Dictionaries x number of letter “I”s on the front cover of each dictionary
• Soccer balls x number of black hexagons on each ball
• Jump ropes x number of feet in each rope (will take measuring)
• Rulers x number of inches on each ruler
• Geoboards x pegs on each board
• Shelves x books or bins on each shelf (if they are the same)
• Recorders x finger holes in each recorder
• Watercolor sets x number of colors in each set
• Crayon boxes x number of crayons in each box
• Calculators x buttons on each calculator
• Milk cartons x ounces of milk in each carton
• Children x various body parts and pieces of clothing
• Social Studies textbook x pages in text
• Computer keyboards x keys on each board

Consider extending the activity by assigning children to find multiplication problems at home…with clothing, dishes, doors, and furniture, they should be able to find at least 10!