Games Using Multiplication

Amaechi Onyeali                Carter Elementary
6901 So. Ogelsby               5740 So. Michigan
Chicago IL 60649               Chicago IL 60637
(312) 324-0069                 (312) 535-0860

Objectives:

Students will play two games that will reinforce their multiplication facts as 
well as their addition skills.


Materials Needed:

1) three or four games of dominoes
2) paper and pencil
3) 24 paper cups

Strategy:

First ask students to give a definition of the word multiplication.  After all 
responses have been put on the board, write down the following definition: 
multiplication is a short way of adding or counting equal numbers.  Place eight 
cups on your desk, 3 in one pile and 5 in another.  Ask one student to come up 
and count the number of cups.  Then ask them to explain how they counted them. 
Next, take one cup from the pile of 5 cups and put it in the pile with 3, making 
2 equal piles of 4.  Explain that there are two ways of counting these cups; by 
adding, or by multiplying 4*2.  If you put up two more piles of cups with four 
cups in each, you could count them or simply multiply 4*4.  Explain what each 
number stands for.  Add two more piles of four cups and show how multiplication 
is quicker and shorter.  Have someone count the number of shoes in the class by 
counting, and have someone calculate it by multiplying. 

Next have students take out a piece of paper and a pen.  Have them make a square 
grid on their paper by drawing three vertical lines equal distances apart inside 
the grid.  Then draw four horizontal lines inside the grid.  Show that you can 
count or multiply to find out how many boxes there are.  Have students fill in 
each box with a number between 0-81.  This game is called math bingo.  The 
teacher will call out factors for which students are to determine whether they 
have the product.  If they do, they are to write the factors in the appropriate 
box.  The first person to get four across or five down is the winner.  The 
winner calls out the next group of factors. 

The next game is called dominoes.  In this game students may lay dominoes only
with the same number next to each other.  For example, a domino displaying a 1-
6 may only be played with a domino displaying a 1 or a 6.  The 6 would have to 
touch the 6 or the 1 would have to touch the 1.  Scoring is done by calculating 
the number of points on the outside.  If the number of points on the outside add 
up to a number that is a multiple of five, that player receives that amount of 
points.  Students must call out the points on the board when they play a 
domino, whether it is a multiple of five or not.  The first person to 150 is 
the winner.  Students should be put in groups of 5 or 6.  They will take 5 or 4 
dominoes respectively without showing anyone.  The person with the 6-6 domino 
plays first.  The first person to get rid of their dominoes wins the hand.  All 
remaining dominoes are added up and rounded to the nearest 5 and given to the 
winner's total.     

Performance Assessment:

Students will be given a short timed quiz which will require them to use their 
addition and multiplication skills.