As a child, I didn’t enjoy learning multiplication facts. I remember sitting down at the kitchen table with my dad and copying facts on index cards. It was so boring!
I just wanted to go outside and play, but I knew my dad wanted the best for me. Fast forward 25 years and now I want to make sure that learning multiplication facts don’t have to be a dull task for students.
There are many different ways to make learning your facts fun. Let me introduce…
#1 – Multiplication Songs
Kids love music and beats. They can learn almost anything with great music. Find songs and videos that help make learning the facts fun.
You can find a large variety of multiplication songs on YouTube. This site has a list of multiplication songs for kids.
If your school is willing to spend extra cash, I highly recommend Flocabulary. They have really great songs with excellent beats that older kids will love, but you’ll need a subscription.
#2 – Math Fact Team Competitions
Get kids motivated with math fact competitions!
I have found that healthy competition gets high levels of student engagement.
How to play?
- Divide your class in half and create 2 teams.
- Students stand in 2 lines (1 line is a team) and face each other
- The teacher can call out a multiplication fact or hold up an equation.
- The 1st pair of students call out the answer.
- The student that answers correctly 1st gets a point for their team.
- Both students sit, and the teacher moves on to the next pairing.
- This process continues until the teacher has gone through the entire line
- The team with the most points wins
If you have an odd number of students, make the extra student the scorekeeper. One way to differentiate the activity would be to pair students at the same academic level to compete against one another.
#3 – Spinning for a Multiplication Match
Another way to increase student engagement is having your kids play math games.
In the game below, students spin and search to find an equivalent game card.
Kids love this game because they want to have the most game cards at the end.
However, the best part is that they are exposed to different representations (arrays, number sentences) of multiplication facts for a deeper understanding.
This game is included in my Multiplication Facts Times Table resource. I’ve created one for each of the multiplication facts through 12.
You’ll love this resource because it includes 3 different multiplication games, student study cards, and a quick assessment.
Download a FREE copy of the Multiplication Facts- 11 Times Table Games by clicking HERE!
#4 – Multiplication War
Another fun game is an oldie but goodie…
Instead of playing War, switch up and play Multiplication War.
How to play?
This is a 2-player game. One student shuffles the cards and hands them face down in two piles.
Both students countdown (3, 2, 1, GO!) and flip over the top card from their face-down pile.
The first student to accurately multiply both numbers on the cards wins the set.
When all cards are gone, the student with the most sets is the winner.
If you use the Ace, Queen, and King in the deck, give them a numerical value.
For example, the Ace could be worth 0, Jack could be worth 1, Queen could be worth 11, and the King could be worth 12. Don’t forget to take the Jokers out.
Click HERE to download this FREE template!
#5 – Multiplication Name Tags
Get kids moving with multiplication name tags! This activity will appeal to your kinesthetic learners.
How does it work?
Create multiplication name tags for everyone in your classroom, including yourself. Throughout the day, everyone should be called by their Product Name.
For example, if someone has on the tag “8 x 3,” his or her name for the day would be 24. Have a special time of the day when students must get up and introduce themselves to someone. “Good morning 25. My name is 80!”
Looking for more multiplication fun?
Check out my Multiplication Facts Bundle if you are looking for fun games that reinforce multiplication facts 2 through 12.
Each fact includes 3 engaging games (Multiplication Face Off, Multiplication Flip, Spinning for a Multiplication Match), student study cards, and a quick formative assessment that can be used in a whole group competition.
Click HERE to preview this pack in my TpT store.
Do you have any fun multiplication games that you use in your classroom? If so, please share in the comments section below.
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