Begin by dividing the class into groups of three or four students. Each group needs access to a solid surface. Give each group an old jigsaw puzzle to put together. Before students get started, explain that every time they find three pieces that fit together, they should turn over those three pieces and write a multiplication problem across the them. For example, students could write 9 x on one piece, 9 on the next and =81 on the third piece. The next time students put the puzzle together, they'll put it together based on the math problems.
Ask students to work in pairs for this activity. Instruct students to draw a tic-tac-toe board on a blank sheet of paper. Students should write down a multiplication problem in each square, such as 5 x 5. When the game begins and a player is ready to draw an X or O in the square, he must first solve the problem correctly. Explain to the class that the student should write the answer below the problem. Finally, he should draw a large X over the square, or circle the problem if he is using an O. The winner is declared when either the Xs or O's form a straight line. Students can progress at a rate that works for them and continue to make new boards with harder multiplication problems if time allows.
This multiplication game is played with a pair of dice and reviews basic facts. (Soft dice work well to cut down on the noise level.) Put students into groups of three. Explain to the players that they should take turns rolling the dice. The player must announce the product of the two numbers rolled. If a player announces the wrong answer, she is considered out of that round. After students have played the game several times, make the game more competitive by asking the other players to snap three times when a person has rolled. If the student does not say the answer before the last snap, she is out.
This fast-paced review game helps students practice basic math facts. Write 20 multiplication problems onto a piece of paper. Write the answers to the questions on index cards using a bold marker. Hang the answers on the board. Divide students into two teams. Give a player from each team a fly-swatter. Ask the students a question from the paper. The first player to slap the board on the correct answer with the fly-swatter earns a point for his team. He then hands the fly-swatter to the next player from his team. The game continues in this manner until every player has had several chances to answer a question. The team with the most points is the winning team and could receive a small reward, such as a piece of candy or extra credit on a future test.
Online multiplication games range from helping students to increase their speed at times tables to explaining the concept of multiplication in a different way. Free online games can also build interest in multiplication for both boys and girls. Free multiplication games from sites such as multiplication.com and fun4thebrain.com are made to motivate children and appeal to various interests levels. Games from these two sites allow students to work independently as the teacher walks around monitoring progress.