Spider Spider is an activity to enhance multiplication skills. The purpose of the game is to be the first team to draw a spider. Students will form two teams. One player from each team throws two die to create a multiplication sum. The factors of the sum determine the part of the spider drawn (body= x 3, legs= x 2 and eyes= x 6). Parts of the spider most be drawn in the aforementioned order. Players must race against one another to roll the correct combination to create a body, eight legs, and two eyes. Different variations of the game are also available.
Maths Up is an activity that helps students practice multiplication and division skills. Four children are picked to come to the front of the room, while the rest of the class are instructed to put their heads down. The four "taggers" go around the room and each pick a classmate to tap lightly on the head. When the teacher yells "Maths Up," the students who were tagged "it" each have to answer a multiplication or division problem by the "tagger." If the student is correct, he switches places with the other child. The child who asked the problem is also responsible for knowing if the other student gave the right answer.
Math Karate is an activity designed to practice addition, subtraction, multiplication and division vocabulary. The teacher yells out a function (plus, minus, times, divided, equals) and the class makes the sign with their arms and makes a karate sound. For addition, children will cross their arms like a "T." For subtraction, one arm is placed horizontally across the body. For multiplication, the arms are crossed like an "X." Equals is just like subtraction, only with two arms. Finally, to make the division sign, students make the subtraction sign and then punch above and below the "line" for the dots.
Flash cards are an effective method to teach multiplication and division, as well as other math skills. Arrange students into groups of two, three or four. Provide each group with a set of multiplication and/or division cards. Instruct the students to practice with one another. Another idea is letting students create their own flash cards, using various art supplies and index cards. Send the cards home with them to use for practice.