Hands-on learning is always a great way to understand multiplication. Children naturally like to touch things, that is the way they learn. So why not use this idea to teach multiplication.
There are many kinds of manipulatives that you can buy, but you do not need to do this. Look around your house, there are many objects you can group together so that your child can see that multiplication is simply adding groups of objects that have equal amounts.
Just in five minutes in the kitchen I found some objects that I could put into groups.
These fish crackers show five groups of three equals fifteen or 5×3=15
These kidney beans show 4×6=24
These tangerines show 4×2-8
This muffin pan shows either 3×4=12 or 4×3=12.
Have your child find objects in the house or in the toy box that he can group. Give him a multiplication fact and have him use the objects to illustrate it. Have fun with it. Learning does not need to be boring!
Learning multiplication and third grade go together. It is a big thing for third graders and when they get done, they feel like they have really accomplished something.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Many eager parents go out and buy flash cards or some cute math game for the computer and have their child start practicing. But wait…
Before your child starts memorizing the multiplication facts, he needs to understand the concept of what multiplication is.
Here is how you can help:
Decide on an object (I used footballs) and put the same amount in equal groups. I made three groups of two footballs. You can use marshmallows, spoons, M&M’s or anything you have at home.
Ask your child to make an adding problem to find the total. I did 2+2+2=6.
Then have them write it in words. Three groups of two equals six or three groups of two footballs equals six footballs.
Finally, show them the multiplication way: 3×2=6
Note: Not until my students understood completely what they were doing did I allow them to say the word “times”. We always said three ” groups of “ when we saw the symbol “X”. SO 4×2=8 was read 4 groups of 2 equals 8. Doing this helped them understand what they were doing so much better.
In the following posts I will give you more ideas on how to help your child learn to multiply.
Show (or review with) your child how to add 10 to any number. Using the number chart help your child know that adding 10 to any number means going down on the number chart one square (right below 4 is 14 and right below 27 is 37 etc.) This will help your child count dimes. So if your child has 17 cents and gets a dime, he will find 17 on the number chart and go down one row to the 27. He now has 27 cents.
Teach your child different coin combinations. Two nickels= 10 cents, two quarters = 50 cents, three quarters= 75 cents etc.
Now all your child needs is practice. Start out easy with just nickels and pennies and once your child is comfortable with the easy coins, gradually add dimes and quarters and half dollars. Let your child use the number chart until he no longer needs it as a crutch.
Give your child some coins and ask him to show you how many ways he can make 33 cents, 78 cents etc. Which way used the least amount of coins? You want to get you child to learn to always show the least amount of coins if possible.
There are many games on the internet that can be fun and helpful if you do not always have the coins available.
Let me know how this works or if you have any ideas. I will write another post on counting out change from one, five, ten and twenty dollar bills next time.
These fish crackers show five groups of three equals fifteen or 5×3=15
These kidney beans show 4×6=24
These tangerines show 4×2-8
This muffin pan shows either 3×4=12 or 4×3=12.
