Math Multiple Table Games
One mathematical skill that is introduced during elementary school is multiplication. Essentially, multiplication is an addition short cut. For example, 5x3 gives you the same answer as 5+5+5, and it takes less time to compute the answer. Games are an ideal educational tool to use when teaching multiplication tables, as they add interest and fun to a topic that can otherwise be difficult and tedious.
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Card Flip
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Two to three students will have fun putting their multiplication skills to use with this game. Provide each player with a dry erase board and a dry erase marker. Remove the face cards from a standard deck of cards. Place the deck face down on a table. Flip two cards over at a time. The numbers that are revealed on the cards become the numbers to be multiplied. Children write the answer down on the dry erase board. The first person to reveal the correct answer earns a point. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins. Make this game more challenging by flipping three cards over and having players multiply the three numbers revealed on the cards.
Times Tables Memory
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This independent game helps children commit times table facts to short-term memory. Use index cards to create two sets of cards--one with multiplication problems and one with answers to the problems. Lay the answer cards face down in a grid and lay the question cards face down in another grid. The player turns over one of the cards from the question grid and one of the cards from the answer grid, trying to locate the answer to the multiplication question. If she makes a match, she removes those cards from the grids. If she does not make a match, she flips the cards over and tries again until she has matched all of the question and answer cards.
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Jumping Multiples
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Children will literally jump for multiples in this game. Use sidewalk chalk to create two number grids that contain identical numbers on the ground. The numbers you write should be answers to multiplication questions that you intend to ask players. On index cards, write down multiplication questions. Players stand in front of the number grids. As you show a multiplication question to players, they mentally calculate the answer. Once they have the answer, they jump onto that number on the number grid. The player to first jump onto the correct number earns a point. The child with the most points at the end of the game wins. This game is intended for two players.
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