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How to Making Times Tables Fun

Students need to know the multiplication tables for their future math classes. Lecturing about the equations or simply assigning worksheets doesn't hold the students' attention as strongly as fun activities. Also, the faster students learn the tables, the more quickly teachers can move on to other subjects. Fun methods of memorization can make the task easier and more entertaining.

Instructions

    • 1
      Use a stopwatch or clock to track the seconds.

      Hold times table races. Create a sheet for each set of factors or a sheet containing all the equations. Have each student complete the sheet in a specific amount of time. For example, give the class 45 seconds to fill out the sheet for one factor. Once the entire class completes their sheets in the amount of time with the correct answers, have some type of celebration (ice cream party or watch a movie).

    • 2
      Small, easy to hold items work well for this activity.

      Use small single food items like jelly beans, candies, grapes or raisins to help students visualize the multiplication equations. For example, arrange the items in groups of 3. Ask the students to count the total number of items in 4 of the clusters (3 x 4). Have the students use the food to solve the various problems and after they finish, allow them to to eat the food.

    • 3

      Write stories with the factors. For example, make the number 5 a main character; when 5 stands by his brother 5, they make 10. Write short word problems. For example, Eric bought 3 sets of 4 apples, 2 sets of 4 pies and 6 sets of 4 watermelons. How much of each item did he buy? Allow the students to make the equations themselves.

    • 4

      Create a quiz game with the factors. On each player's turn, ask an equation such as 2 times 4. Give eat student a point for answering correctly. The student with the most points at the end of a set time wins the game.

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