Role play is a method that encourages students to be silly and outgoing. Multiplication word problems that involve settings and characters can be assigned to students allowing them to demonstrate what happens in the problem. In addition to getting students to treat a multiplication problem using a hands-on method, role play gives engages students in critical thinking as he or she works to solve the problem from a first person perspective. For example, set up a "candy store" in class and allow students to play the roles of shop owner and customer. Students get to play a role, which involves a transaction that requires multiplication.
Dividing a fifth grade class into teams of students is ideal for multiplication word problems that are longer and more challenging. Allowing students to work with peers make the learning social and more engaging. Student teams can be organized in class, where instruction is given so teammates get a baseline understanding of the topic at hand. Afterward teams can continue to work on the problems outside of class and present findings to the entire group at a predetermined time during class. For example, pair students up to work on the creation of a multiplication word problem. Students will have fun creating bizarre scenarios and using multiplication to stump peers. Each group must have an answer key to the problem they create.
Using materials and props provide a tangible way to illustrate what is happening in multiplication word problems. Materials such as toys, craft items or multimedia helps present the content of the word problem in a manner that increases understanding, engagement and fun. Any assortment of materials can be used to illustrate the problem including play money for word problems involving currency or other items that are easily multiplied such as blocks, clay or marbles. For example, use a deck of playing cards to represent the numbers in a word problem and allow students to manipulate the cards to work through the multiplication problem.
Fifth graders use multiplication and other math skills learned in earlier grades in everyday life. Math skills are active whenever students trade game cards, compare and compete on video game stats or when counting the days to a special day. These and other familiar scenarios are fertile grounds to teach multiplication word problems because it is student-centered content. Teaching through topics students already consider fun makes the word problem more palatable and conjures positive feeling toward math.