Multiplication is a basic skill students need to master before they can move on to more advanced math. Memorizing multiplication tables is one option, but it’s important for kids to understand exactly what it means to multiply. This list of fun and engaging ways to teach multiplication has so many options. You’re sure to find a way to resonate with every one of your students!
1. Play a game of Scoot
This is a fun way to break up the routine of worksheets. One at a time, you will post one of the multiplication task cards and your students will work to find the answer. After a set amount of time (up to you), say “Scoot.” Students will leave their answer sheet on their desk and move one seat to their left. Post another task card. Again, say “Scoot” and have students rotate.
2. Practice skip-counting with a song
For many of us, setting information to music helps us memorize it. This series of videos from HeavenSentHorse features common tunes that your students will quickly catch on to like Jingle Bells, This Old Man and more.
3. Solve multiplication puzzles
Puzzles are a great way to engage students and build their problem-solving skills. These puzzles help students put together the pieces to get the whole picture and really understand how to solve a multiplication problem.
4. Play Four in a Row
This fun game challenges kids to practice their math facts. Partners will take turns choosing a circle and solving the math fact. If they get it right, they place a marker over it (here, a penguin stamp). The first player to connect four wins.
5. Solve Mystery Pictures
Students will solve the one-digit multiplication problems, then use the key to color in the boxes and create the mystery picture.
6. Play multiplication tic-tac-toe
Playing with partners, each player chooses a multiplication problem to solve. If they get it right, they mark it with their dot marker. If not, it’s the next person’s turn. Play goes back and forth until someone gets three in a row.
7. Build multiplication skills with Minecraft
Your kids will flip for this fun version of Minecraft multiplication. Download the game and instructions for free!
8. Deal a hand of Spiral
Players take turns rolling the dice and moving around the game board with this fun multiplication card game.
9. Sweeten up multiplication practice
Write multiplication problems on the bottom of small cupcake paper liners. On the inside, write the product. Two players take turns picking a liner, finding the answer, and flipping it over to check.
10. Take a whirl at fidget spinner math
The object of the game is simple: Spin the spinner and complete as many problems as possible.
11. Make multiplication pool noodles
Pick up some pool noodles and use our easy tutorial to turn them into the ultimate multiplication manipulatives! This is such a unique way for kids to practice their math facts.
12. Match wits at Array Capture
You can use dice-in-dice or just a regular pair of dice for this game. Players roll the dice and use the numbers to block off space on the grid, writing in the math sentence too. At the end of the game, the player with the most spaces colored in wins.
13. Punch holes to make arrays
Arrays introduce multiplication in a way that kids can easily understand. This activity is great for active learners who will love punching holes as they create multiplication arrays for basic facts.
14. Fold a multiplication cootie catcher
We love finding new and clever ways to practice math facts! Get these free printables, then let kids color and fold them up. Now they’ve got self-checking practice at their fingertips.
15. Visit the Multiplication Shop
How fun is this? Set up a “store” with small items for sale. Kids choose a number of items from each section to “buy” and write out the multiplication sentences as their receipt!
16. Ask a partner, “Do You Have …?”
Got an old “Guess Who?” game lying around? Turn it into a multiplication game instead!
17. Pull out the base-10 blocks
Base-10 blocks are one of our favorite manipulatives, and they’re a terrific tool to help you teach multiplication. Build arrays with them to let kids visualize the problems and their answers.
18. Color in Emoji Mystery pages
Here’s a twist on color-by-number. First, kids have to answer the multiplication problems in each square. Then they get to color! Get a free set of these pages at Artsy Fartsy Mama.
19. Multiply with dice-in-dice
Something about dice-in-dice just makes learning more fun! If you don’t have a set, you can use a pair of regular dice for this activity. Mix things up with polyhedral dice with higher numbers too.
20. Pick sticks to play Kaboom!
So easy and so fun! Write multiplication facts at the end of a variety of wood craft sticks. On a few, write “Kaboom!” instead. To play, kids draw sticks from a cup and answer the problem. If they get it right, they can keep pulling sticks. But if they get a Kaboom! stick, they have to put their whole collection back!
21. Match Multiplication memory cards
Practice facts with a memory game. Make your own cards by writing facts and answers, then lay them all face down. Turn over a card and try to find its matching answer or problem. Your turn continues as long as you’re able to make matches.
22. Find it first
Write a series of products on the whiteboard, and mix in a few random numbers too. Send two students up to the board and call out a multiplication problem. The first one to find and point to the correct answer wins a point.
23. Draw Waldorf multiplication flowers
This is a creative way to teach multiplication facts. Draw a flower with 12 petals and a circle in the center. In the circle, write the multiplicand; on the petals, the numbers 1 to 12. Now, draw larger petals outside, and fill in the product of each fact. Add some color to make fun classroom decorations!
24. Play multiplication war
All you need for this is a deck of cards, plus paper and a pencil for each player. Split the deck between the players. Each player flips two cards, then writes out the multiplication sentence and the answer. The player with the higher product takes all the cards. Play until the deck is gone. The player with the most cards wins!
25. Compete at multiplication bingo
Grab these free printable bingo cards at the link and provide one to each student along with some chips or beans to use as counters. Call out multiplication facts and have students cover the answers if they have them. When they get five in a row, it’s a bingo!
26. Put a twist on Rock, Paper, Scissors
Chances are your students already know how to play Rock, Paper, Scissors. This is similar, but instead, each player holds out a random number of fingers. The first one to correctly multiply them together and call out the answer wins a point. Play to 5, 10, or any number you choose.
27. Do some egg carton multiplication
Number the cups of an egg carton from 1 to 12. Drop in two marbles or beans, then close the carton and shake it up. Open it up and have students write out the multiplication number sentence based on where the marbles landed. This is an easy tool parents can make for kids at home too.
28. Try interactive flash cards
These aren’t your ordinary flash cards! These free printables are a cool way to teach multiplication since the answer side includes a dot array to help kids visualize the solution. You can use sticky-note flags to cover the answers while kids use the arrays for help too.
29. Teach multiplication facts with a paper plate wheel
All it takes is paper plates, glue, and a marker to help your students learn their multiplication tables. Let kids have fun decorating their plates, and this doubles as a math craft!
30. Practice with fact family triangles
Tie together multiplication and division facts with triangle flash cards. Learn how to use them and buy a printable set at Primary Flourish. You can also have kids make their own.
31. Make LEGO arrays
LEGO bricks are one of our favorite ways to teach math! You can use multiple bricks to make arrays or just look at the bumps on the top of a single brick as an array in itself.
32. Try the finger trick
This cute craft also teaches kids a clever multiplication trick that can help them if they’re stuck with multiplication “times nine.” Learn the easy trick at 5-Minute Crafts.
33. Use the Force to teach multiplication
Sometimes learning multiplication facts just takes practice. Worksheets may not be very exciting, but adding a theme that kids are interested in may motivate your students. This free download from Royal Baloo features homework sheets and practice papers with graphs, mazes, puzzles, and more, all with a Star Wars theme.
34. Watch a multiplication video
From Schoolhouse Rock to Animaniacs and beyond, there are lots of fun videos to help you teach multiplication. Find our big list here.
35. Play multiplication checkers
Turn a thrift store checkerboard into a multiplication game with some stickers and a marker. The play is similar to traditional checkers, but you have to solve the problem before you can leave your checker on a new space.
36. Toss a multiplication soccer ball
What better way to appeal to students than to combine math with one of their favorite activities? These fun balls can be used in so many ways to support learning.
37. Flip bottle caps
Here’s a cool alternative to flash cards. You can use metal bottle caps or plastic bottle lids, along with round stickers that fit the caps. It’s a great way to go green while you teach multiplication!
38. Batter up to learn multiplication
Sports-loving kids will love this one! Get the free printables and use them along with a 10-sided die to get some multiplication facts practice.
39. Line up dominoes
Single dominoes turned sideways become multiplication number sentences! Grab a handful and have kids write out the sentences and their answers.
40. Roll to win
This works a bit like Yahtzee. Roll a die, then choose a number from 1 to 6 to multiply it by. Each number can only be used once, so choose carefully to rack up the most points. If you have polyhedral dice, you can play with higher numbers too.
41. Sculpt play dough arrays
What kid doesn’t love the chance to play with play dough? Use this activity for math centers, and kids will really enjoy practicing their multiplication facts.
42. Connect the dots with Multiplication Squares
This is a math spin on the old Dots and Boxes game. Kids roll two dice and multiply the numbers together. Then they find the answer on the board and connect two dots next to it. The goal is to complete a box, coloring it in with your own color marker. When the board is full, count the squares to see who wins.
43. Cut out and assemble array cities
Here’s another colorful math craft: multiplication array cities. Most high-rises have their windows arranged to make perfect arrays. Have kids make their own city skylines with buildings showing various multiplication arrays.
44. Stack math power towers
There’s a universal appeal about making stacks of cups, so don’t be surprised if kids clamor to play this game over and over again. Pull a cup, answer correctly, and stack. See who can get a stack of 10 first, or who can build the highest tower in 2 minutes, and so on.
45. Change your students’ names (temporarily)
Grab some name tags and write multiplication equations on each. Give a tag to each of your students. For the remainder of the day, everyone will refer to each other by the answer to the equation on their tag (e.g., the student with the name tag that says 7 x 6 would be referred to as “42”).
46. Take multiplication to the gridiron
All you need is poster board, 12-sided dice, and a couple of game pieces to teach multiplication using football. Students move their game piece up the field by rolling the dice and multiplying the two numbers that face up. They get four chances to score a touchdown.
47. Roll and Bump!
Print the free game boards, each with a multiplier in the heading. Roll two dice, add them together, then multiply by the multiplier. Then place your game piece over that answer. If another player also comes up with the same product, they can “bump” your game piece off and replace it with their own. The player with the most markers on the board at the end of the game wins.
48. Weave multiplication patterns
Skip-counting provides an introduction to multiplication. We love this hands-on activity where kids skip-count and weave yarn into pretty patterns.
49. Challenge kids with Multiplication Jenga
Grab an old Jenga game at the thrift store (or pick up the generic version at the dollar store). Write multiplication problems on each block, then stack ’em up. Player one pulls a block and tries to answer the problem. If they get it right, they keep the block. If they miss, their partner gets a chance. But if no one can answer it, the block gets stacked up on top. Keep playing until the tower collapses!
50. Twist and learn
Your students will love this twisted version of an old favorite! The original Math Twister was designed for addition, but it works for multiplication too. Simply write products on sticky notes and add them to circles. Then call out math problems like “Left foot, 4 x 5!” The player must put their left foot on the number 20—if they can!
