3 Fun Ways to Practice Multiplication Facts during the Summer

Sun and fun...as summer approaches loading up my Third Grade and Fourth Grade Math students with multiplication math fact practice is the key to avoiding the summer slide. 

Practicing multiplication facts throughout the summer helps upper elementary students ease into higher math with less time focusing on solving the facts and more time dedicated to the math concept. 

When students know their multiplication facts with ease and accuracy, they're more willing to try higher math concepts because they have confident in the basic foundation of their math facts.

Here are 3 ways to Practice Multiplication Facts During the Summer

1. Multiplication Games

2. Art Activities

3. Color by Number Activities 

MULTIPLICATION GAMES

Games are such an important part of childhood. Through games, children learn sharing, problem-solving skills, communication skills and wait time.  Presenting math in game form has numerous benefits.  

Used as a review, math games can help all different types of learners.  Visual learners are supported through seeing numbers and manipulatives.  Kinesthetic Learners are able to have the hands-on movement experience they need to make learning connections.  Lastly auditory learners benefit from talking and communicating with others during the math games.  Learning through games is where it is at!

Some of my favorite math games include Multiplication Jenga and Multiplication War.

Multiplication War

To play this game, dice or playing cards can be used.  Team players flip over two cards face up.  Multiply the two numbers on the cards together.  Whoever has the highest product keeps the cards wins.

To play Multiplication War with dice, students roll 2 dice and then multiply the number together.  The person with the highest product wins the round.  Looking to incorporate math language?  Invite players to say their fact and product.  Six times three is the product eighteen.  

Multiplication Jenga

To play this game, convert a wooden jenga game to a math fact game by writing math facts of both sides of the blocks in marker (or on a label). Build the Jenga tower in rows of three - turning the upper row in a 90 degree direction.  Players take turns saying multiplication facts with their product and then take the block from any level.  The game ends when the tower falls.

ART ACTIVITIES

Summer is the time to be outside soaking up the sunshine and fresh air.  Why not incorporate 20 minutes of learning in the sunshine?  Art encourages kids to have fun and express themselves.

Math facts can be practiced using sidewalk chalk.  A drive way or a front porch is a perfect canvas for students to write and design their times tables using chalk or sidewalk paint.  These supplies can be reasonably purchased at the Dollar Store, Target or a craft store.  

Speaking of canvas, we love painting in water colors.  Sitting on a deck, patio or bench is a great place to do a little painting and practicing math facts.  Using Q-tips to paint can also be fun and different.

Other art options can also include rolling math facts with play doh or clay - so fun and great for hands-on learners. 

Lastly, my ultimate clean smelling favorite...shaving cream.  Grab a cookie sheet and some cheap shaving cream and you have messy creamy fun.  Best bonus? It smells nice and cleans - although I would recommend wiping down the surface with soap and water when done because it can leave a residue.

 

COLOR BY NUMBER ACTIVITIES 

Coloring activities is my absolute favorite way to incorporate both an art and game combo.  There is no pressure in color by number math practice and it can be very soothing and relaxing at the same time.

Supporting your Third Grade or Fourth Grade students practice their multiplication facts throughout the summer can be a challenge, but it’s an important practice they need to continue to be ready for school startup and higher math.
If you are noticing your students struggling to recall the multiplication facts for fluency and accuracy, this color by number packet is perfect practice to use during the summer. You can use it in the classroom during the last few days of school or put it in a summer math packet. Just print and go!
YES, I WANT THE SUMMER MULTIPLICATION RESOURCE!

You can always “COUNT ON ME” for engaging, differentiated math resources to help every student shine!

 

Beginning to Understand Decimals in 4th Grade Math and the Upper Elementary Classroom

Believe me when I say that teaching decimals to 4th Graders can sometimes be a challenge! It is hard for fourth grade math students to grasp place value, much less decimals and their places. While it may be typical for students to struggle with decimals and place value, it doesn’t have to be the norm!

Learning about decimals and their place value is an extremely important skill, especially when students transition to learning about fractions and percentages along with basic number and money sense. 

First, I begin by reviewing with students that a decimal is less than one or less than the whole thing. Then I slowly build for understanding using place value.  It is important that the students visually see that tenths and hundredths are just a small part of the whole thing.

When teaching students how to read and write decimals, creating a visual chart like this can be helpful. Remind students that the decimal is said as "and" when reading a whole number with decimals. 

After using place value, then we move to ordering them on a number line, eventually comparing to adding/subtracting decimals.  My last step is to practice and introduce multiplying and dividing decimals.

Introduce or practice decimals with students with my freebie here. Students will practice adding and reviewing decimals. This is a great way to determine where your students are at and their understanding of place value. 

If you’ve been around here for very long, then I’m sure you know what my FAVORITE way to introduce or review a new concept is through catchy songs.

Number Rock has some great videos that will have your students up on their feet, moving to the beat, all while they learn about decimals and their places. 

Check them out! Decimal Place Value, and Rounding Decimals are sure to be hit in your classroom!

Once students have a stronger understanding of decimals, then it’s time to move to Comparing and Ordering them. And as always, you can count on Tricia for engaging resources. 

I love using this decimals resource in math centers, small groups, as homework and even during asynchronous work. Your 4th and 5th graders will be so engaged with 14 different activities. And to make your life easier, I’ve also included two parent communication forms along with an anchor chart. 

What more could you want?! 

Your students may turn into math lovers after all! Happy teaching!

Check out my Beginning Decimals Resource below.

You can always “COUNT ON ME” for engaging, differentiated math resources to help every student shine!

3 Ways to Teach Teen Numbers in Kindergarten

Do your Kindergarten students struggle with understanding teen numbers? No fear, you can count on Tricia!

Sometimes reading and even writing teen-digit numbers can be tricky for little learners. While it’s a skill learned in kindergarten and first grade, it sets the foundation for mathematical building blocks in later grades. 

Teen Numbers are the numbers between 10 and 20.  We practice representing them by taking a ten and adding more.  Ways to compose teen numbers include using tally marks, ten frames, addition and subtraction equations, coins and identifying teen numbers on a number line or a number grid.  

There are SO many options for students to practice composing teen numbers. But how can we help our students master teen numbers with ease? I’m going to share 3 of my favorite tricks for mastering reading, writing. counting and decomposing teen numbers

1. Incorporating Music 

2. Composing and Decomposing Teen Numbers with manipulatives

3. Differentiated Activities

INCORPORATING MUSIC

One of my all time favorite ways to introduce and review a concept like teen numbers in with….

You guessed! JACK HARTMAN!!

I love incorporating a video with catchy songs into our lessons. Plus, my students can’t get enough!

Check out these Jack Hartman videos that are guaranteed to get your students up and moving, while also learning about teen numbers. We just love that guy. 

Teen Numbers in the Air

Teen Numbers Rap

Teen Numbers Song

 In the classroom, I like playing these music videos as a review in the morning during bellwork when the students are starting their day or before math as a warm up to our teen numbers lessons. They are short and sweet!

Students can also practice place value with this video here. 

COMPOSING and DECOMPOSING TEENS WITH MANIPULATIVES

When we learn about teen numbers we practice composing and decomposing numbers. Begin by using manipulatives like mini erasers, cubes or base ten blocks for students to make a visual connection.  

Begin by reviewing making familiar numbers like 7 and 8 to get students in the mindset of practicing ways to compose numbers.  In class we talk about numbers, like us, belonging to families.  The largest number in a family is 9.  

We practice chanting this  "This largest number, the largest number, the largest number in a family is 9."   If there are nine members (cubes, mini erasers..) in a family, it is all good.  Once the 10th member comes, the numbers bind together and jump over into the tens family.   This chant helps students understand making ten and numbers greater than 10.

DIFFERENTIATED ACTIVITIES

Some students seem to catch onto the concept of composing teen numbers quickly while other students need more support and scaffolding of the concept. Differentiated teen number activities help Kindergarten Math students who benefit from extra help.

I’ve created differentiated worksheets to help students out when learning about teen numbers. Use these Teen Number Activities for math centers, buddy activities, peer tutoring, small group, enrichment, homework or even independent review.

Don’t leave without grabbing a freebie here! Students will practice ways to make teen numbers while also engaging their fine motor skills by cutting and pasting. So perfect for little learners. 

This Teen Number resource is a fantastic supplement to those teachers looking for more support and ideas for teaching teen numbers . From cut, sort and gluing activities to different ways decomposing numbers 10 to 20 to detailed parent communication forms, this resource is perfect with fun activities to practice understanding teen numbers. 

Helping your Kindergarteners or First-Graders write teen numbers can be tricky, but it’s an important skill they need to master to count with confidence! 

If you’ve ever noticed your students struggling with the “tricky teens”, this packet is perfect practice. You can use it as morning work, homework, in small group enrichment centers, or even as partner work. Just print and go!

Kindergarten teachers are loving this resource for tackling the teens! One teacher said, "This was an awesome resource. My Kinders loved it and it did a great job reinforcing teen numbers. It was very organized and well designed. Many thanks."

Another teacher said, "This was just what I was looking for to help students fill the gaps with a daily routine to practice and learn the tricky teen numbers."

YES, I WANT THE TEEN NUMBERS RESOURCE! 

You can always “count on me” for engaging, differentiated math resources to help every student shine!

You can always “COUNT ON ME” for engaging, differentiated math resources to help every student shine!

Fun Spring Addition Activities for Kindergarten and First Grade Math Students

 I don’t know about you, but I am so glad that Spring is here! One of my favorite parts about this time of the year is incorporating elements of it into worksheets and activities. 

Early learners in kindergarten and first grade are introduced to and practice new addition facts for most of the school year. Students learn these new facts for mastery and to strengthen their ability to instantly recall math facts. 

But why is this so important? For students to grow and develop as mathematicians, they must first master basic facts. Learning these facts will create fluency and set the foundation for high level thinking that is needed for subtraction, multiplication and even division. 

There are so many different activities and ways for students to practice addition fluency, but I have found that many students love to do so through color by number activities. Plus, activities such as this are also perfect for hand-eye coordination as well as fine motor skills. 

Little hands won’t realize how much they are actually learning while they work their way through  a color by number activity. Try it out in your classroom this Spring by clicking here. Students will use instant recall to work their way through this adorable frog coloring page FREEBIE.

If you love this activity, then there's more where that came from! I love using this activity for more ways to practice addition and help my students master facts in the classroom. Plus it’s little prep for me. What’s better than that?! 

Happy Students and Happy Teacher. 

Students will be engaged while coloring addition facts by code (Spring style). I love to use this addition activities during small groups, math centers and even enrichment time. 

You can always count on Tricia for engaging math resources that your students will love, and some that might just turn a few of your students into math lovers after all. 

You can always “COUNT ON ME” for engaging, differentiated math resources to help every student shine!

Practice Multiplying by 12 with Games, Activities and Songs

Once students have mastered basic addition and subtraction, then they are ready for the fun stuff. One word, multiplication. 

This is a concept that I feel can go two ways for students. They are either thrilled to be learning something new or they have major anxiety about the unknown of multiplication. 

Whatever the case may be, introduce or review multiplying by 12 with these fun, upbeat and engaging activities are sure to cure any nervousness related to multiplication. 

Interactive Videos

I love using YOUTUBE videos in the classroom This YOUTUBE video from NUMBEROCK is awesome!  I love the rhythm, and your students will too! They will move to the beat, while also learning the multiples of 12. How fun! 

(In my next life, I want to come back as a dancer in this video 💃🏻)

As always, I love introducing and reviewing math concepts with a short and catchy video.  If Jack Hartmann  creates it, we play it.  Plain and simple.  We love that guy! In this video, students can learn to multiply by 12 (along with Jack, of course!).

 

Multiplication Activities

Students can practice their multiplication facts with this Multiplication Facts Activity. This is a great way to review, enhance or simply learn new multiplication facts by 12. The games, activities and flashcards in this Multiplication Resource have been proven to be highly effective in helping beginners master multiplication factor 12 facts and times tables. Students will have FUN while also learning. Win-Win!

Bottom Line: Knowing Multiplication Facts with instant recall and accuracy is crucial for higher learning in math. Once students understand the basic concept of multiplication, looking for patterns within times tables and practicing facts in a fun way can help students achieve mastery. 

But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered 

Grab this awesome FREEBIE to practice multiplying by 12 with your students! Students can find the missing product of multiplication facts to make each number equation true. 

Math Games continue to be an important part of my math block. In Times 12 Bump, students will play a fun, multiplication game with partners. The only materials needed is dice and some counters. The player who solves the most products, wins! 

If your students find the above Multiplication Times 12 free activities helpful, you may also like my Multiplication Facts Times 12 worksheets. The Multiplying by 12 resource is a wonderful supplement to those teachers looking for more support and ideas to practice and review multiplying by 12. From word problems to mathematical mazes, this multiplication packet is perfect with fun activities to practice multiplying by twelve.

The Multiplication Times 12 resource, as seen above, is versatile, as well as perfect for morning work, homework, small group enrichment centers, and partnered work. Plus, it is a fun and engaging resource for your students and no-prep for you! 

You can always count on me for high quality resources that your students will enjoy.

Check out the Multiplication Times 12 resource today! 

You can always “COUNT ON ME” for engaging, differentiated math resources to help every student shine!

Spring Math Activities for the Upper Elementary Classroom

The birds are chirping! The flowers are beginning to bloom! It is Spring time. That means it is time to integrate Spring FUN with math. Why not take that time to brush up on multiplication facts.  

Knowing multiplication facts with instant recall is so important for numerous other math topics including adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators, greatest common factors, least common multiples, multiplying integers and multiplying fractions.  I even use multiplication myself for long division as I think of the inverse operation to help me solve division problems. Full disclosure: I know my multiplication facts faster than my division facts.  Ssssh, don't tell my students. 

So grab your brightest and most colorful crayons and let's get started!  What an AWESOME way to have your Third Grade Math students, Fourth Grade Math or even your Fifth Grade Math students review their multiplication facts for fluency and accuracy than with Multiplication Color by Number Activities?  

My students love coloring and I love the quiet and calmness it seems to bring in my classroom. I have even been known to play relaxing Enya or slow jazz while children work in small groups or independently on these worksheets.   

Don't believe me? Try it yourself.  I created this Spring Multiplication Worksheet just for you.

CLICK HERE to download this Spring Multiplication FREEBIE

Practicing and reviewing multiplication facts for accuracy and instant recall is very important for higher math.  Students are more confident with advanced math concepts when they don't have to worry about figuring out their math facts and can just concentrate on the new math topic in front of them.  

There are so many different ways to practice multiplication facts...games, songs, flashcards, traditional worksheets, color by number activities or even using art mediums like sidewalk chalk, paint or window markers.  One of my all-time favorites continues to be color by code printables though🖍️🖍️🖍️

If your students enjoyed practicing their multiplication facts with the freebie above, check out these Spring Multiplication Color by Number Activities on TPT.  

This Spring Multiplication Resource is a fantastic supplement for those teachers looking for more support for practicing and reviewing multiplication facts times 1 to times 12. From colorful flowers to spring kids, these color by number activities are perfect fun for practicing times tables for fluency and accuracy.

Each page focuses on a different factor. So some of your students can be brushing up on their times 2 or times 5 facts, while other students can be focusing on more challenging facts like times 7 or times 12.  I say differentiation is key to mathematical confidence and success.

Spring Multiplication is versatile, as well as perfect for morning work, math centers, homework, small group enrichment centers, and partnered work.  Plus, it is a fun and engaging resource for your students and no-prep for you!

You can always “COUNT ON ME” for engaging, differentiated math resources to help every student shine!

Activities to Practice Adding Doubles

 

It's Double Trouble Time⏰ Adding doubles (1+1, 2+2, and so on) is an important step in learning basic operations for your youngest mathematicians.  This is one of the first steps in understanding counting, addition, and eventually multiplication skills. 

Your K-2 students will get excited about learning how to add doubles with these fun, engaging activities to practice adding doubles 1+1 through 10+10.

As always, I love introducing and reviewing math concepts with a short and catchy video.  If Jack Hartmann  creates it, we play it.  Plain and simple.  We love that guy!

There are so many great Adding Doubles Songs on YOUTUBE but another way I help my students is by giving each student an anchor chart. Anchor Charts help support my visual learners.  As time goes on, I notice my students rely less and less on the anchor chart as they commit these facts to memory and instant recall.

Click on the picture below to grab this Doubles Anchor Chart FREEBIE.

Adding Doubles Pictures

Color and cut pictures of baseballs and gloves to practice adding doubles! Add two baseballs plus two gloves to equal four, or use the picture manipulatives to count three gloves + three more gloves for a total of six! 

Pictures serve as easy, printable manipulatives to count and add. As an added bonus, your students can practice cutting and coloring skills!  Let them get really creative with a big pack of colored pencils or crayons. Try out this counting and adding doubles activity in these ready-to-go double facts FREE printables!

Color by Number

Yes! More coloring! Your K-2 students love to bring out the markers, crayons, and colored pencils, so activate their fact power with a color by number baseball player. This is another chance for your students to practice adding doubles and hit it out of the park! Your students simply solve the problems on the baseball player and color by number according to the key provided. It's a home run for your students who are visual learners! 

Try this and other adding doubles activities that are ready for your students to use today! Want to add an extra challenge for your advanced learners? Have them create their own color by number sheets for adding doubles! Display the final products to showcase student math and art talent in your classroom!

Use a Number Line

Incorporate a number line into adding doubles instruction. As your students solve the equations, they can use a number line as a visual or even plot their answer on the number line. Number lines are a great way to practice counting along with basic operations such as addition. 

The adding doubles activities come with adding doubles equations and a number line on each of the equation sheets! Each of the above adding doubles activities are ready-to-go with the adding double freebie! 

Looking for more ways to practice adding doubles? This Doubles Resource is a fantastic supplement for those teachers looking for more support and ideas for practicing adding doubles. From colorful color by number activities to fun games, these addition activities are sure to keep your beginning mathematicians engaged and on task. 

The double facts activities come with 25 activities, 12 student reference pages and 3 Parent Communication Pages:

Timed Test (36 questions on the page)

Adding Doubles with Dominoes (2 differentiated)

Missing Addends

Doubles Number Puzzle

Color by Number (6)

Five in a Row Game (2)

Rolling for Fluency Game 

Roll and Color Game (2)

Doubles Sum Find Game

Tic Tac Toe Game 

Word Problems

True/False - cut, sort glue

Baseball themed cut and glue to the double's sum (2)

Student Bookmarks, Flashcards and Addition Chart

Doubles Anchor Charts (black/white and color)

Adding doubles is a beginning skill for students learning basic operations and addition. However, it's a huge building block in learning multiplication (by 2). 

Your students will win the big game of adding doubles with these ready-to-use, fun resources for your Math classroom!  Perfect for morning work, math centers, homework, small group enrichment centers, and partnered work.  Plus, it is a fun and engaging resource for your students and no-prep for you!

Try out these other addition activities to use in your math classroom!

You can always “COUNT ON ME” for engaging, differentiated math resources to help every student shine!