If you have a class or a larger group, use the playground to give the children some fun and fresh air. Draw a large circle on the ground and divide it into 10 or more slices, depending on the children's proficiency. Divide the group into two teams. Blindfold one player from each group. Walk both blindfolded players around the circle to disorient them slightly before you ask them to step into the circle and walk a few steps. Once they've stopped, call out the numbers on which the players are standing. Both teams must multiply the figures. The first team to solve the problem gets a score. When all the players have had a turn on the circle, the scores are added up, and the team with the highest figure wins.
An abacus is an effective teaching tool that give a visual expression of abstract mathematical concepts. It has taught countless generations of Asian children the principles of mathematics and is even able to compete with calculators. When used with children, it has the added benefit of resembling a toy that makes an interesting clicking sound when the colorful beads are moved against each other. Chose a basic abacus with 10 beads on 10 rods to avoid having to explain the complicated techniques necessary with Japanese and Chinese models. When starting out with the tool, teach the student that the beads simply represent the first number in a multiplication, while the rods are the second number. Once the children have pushed the appropriate number of beads on the correct number of rods, they add up the beads to get to the solution.
Songs and rhymes are a fun educational tool that will help children to remember facts through song and play rather than through revising. "Sesame Street" in 1973 established "Schoolhouse Rock," an educational series that helped children to understand math concepts, including multiplication, through songs that are available for free download. Modern resources use hip hop and rap songs to get the children's interest in multiplication, but will charge from $10 for download or purchase of a CD.
Educational resource websites offer a wide variety of multiplication games and activities that can assist children in learning times tables while providing some fun in the process. In most circumstances, players are guided or encouraged by animated figures to multiply animals or objects, usually within a predetermined time frame and with funny sound effects. Some sites also offer multiplayer options in which children can race each other by supplying the right answer to given multiplication tasks. Most sites are free, but might require log-in details, especially when accessing multiplayer games.