2014

Learning
Mathematics the
Fun Way:
Practical Tips for Learning
Multiplication

Created by Emily Larocque

JUNE 2014

Learning Mathematics the Fun Way

Table of Contents
Learning Math: Theoretical Discussion ...................................................................................... 2
Learning MultiplicationA Practical Process ........................................................................... 4
Practical Strategies for Different Learners ................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
References .................................................................................................................................. 10

Learning Mathematics the Fun Way

Introduction
This handout has been written for parents looking to teach their children multiplication,
but in a way that makes the process fun and enjoyable. The process and steps to
teaching are based on the foundational educational psychology principles of Jean
Piaget. The strategies included have been gathered from a variety of resources that I
have used in tutoring children in mathematics. This is an informal resource meant to
provide some ideas into how to become creative in helping children become motivated
in mathematics. Good luck and have fun!

Learning Mathematics the Fun Way

Learning Math: Theoretical Discussion

How do you get your child to take an interest in math? How do you help your child reach
their potential in mathematics? Learning multiplication is one of the building blocks to
math education. In order for children to successfully move to the next steps in their current
grade and grades to come, children must have a strong understanding of basic
mathematical principles. Learning math does not need to be a frustrating experience,
you can encourage your child to enjoy math by using a variety of different strategies.
Jean Piaget studied the cognitive development of children during the early 1900s. He
found that children learn in a series of steps where one type of understanding builds upon
another. His theory, entitled Theory of Cognitive Development, is divided into several
stages:
1. Sensorimotor Stage (Infancy)
a. Knowing is characterized by movement and actions without the use of
symbols. Knowledge is built based on a childs interaction with his or her
surroundings
b. Children at the age of seven months begin to develop the ability to make
memory (object permanence)
2. Pre-operation Stage (Toddler/Early Childhood)
a. Children begin to use symbols, language improves, and imagination and
memory are further developed.
3. Concrete Operational (Elementary to pre-teen)
a. Children begin to learn the laws of conservayion (for example, a child will
begin to understand that one cup of water will have the same mass and
weight despite being poured into different sized containers and appearing
to be different sizes)
b. Children begin to use symbols in logical ways and relate them to their
concrete counterparts.
4. Formal Operational (Teen to Adult)
a. Children begin to understand abstract concepts and connect symbols to
them

Learning Mathematics the Fun Way

In

mathematics,

Concrete
understanding

this

process

can

Understanding
and using
symbols

4
be

related

to

the

Logical use of
symbols

stages

of

learning:

Relating
symbols to
abstract
concepts

Basically, this means that children must first understand the concept of quantity and
value before they can begin to understand what an abstract number is. To adults,
numbers instantly make sense. They represent something concrete. To a child, however,
numbers can often become confusing if the child does not first understand the concepts
of counting and value that numbers represent.
In multiplication learning, I believe in starting from the basics and then moving to
increasingly difficult concepts. When the child demonstrates to me that they understand
the first foundational concept, then I move on to the next. This way, a child feels confident
in their skills and understanding.

Learning multiplicationA Practical Process

1. Concrete Understanding
a. First, ensure your child understands the concept of numbers and value.
b. You can practice counting on fingers, with items, or with pictures. Children
counting with fingers is not necessarily a bad thing, it means that they are
trying to relate what they are learning to something concrete
c. It is important for your child to be comfortable with ordinal numbers
(counting) before they begin learning about multiplication. If your child has
difficulty counting, try adapting clapping games to counting.
d. You can try drawing out the concept of grouping
i. XXX XXX XXX
ii. Say it out loud: three groups of three means there are nine in total.
Write it down: 3x3=9.

Learning Mathematics the Fun Way

iii. Ask your child to take a group of toys or objects and sort them into
groups that are all the same. Ex. 4 groups of 4 items
iv. It is really useful at this stage to teach your child skip counting. Finding
patterns in numbers can be fun. Start with the simpler ones: 10s, 5s
and then try working on harder ones 2s etc
2. Understanding and Using Symbols
a. Once your child seems comfortable with grouping, you can begin to
connect it to symbols.
b. Draw out a bunch of ticks on a piece of paper and ask your child to divide
the ticks into groups (3 groups of 2, etc) by drawing circles.
c. Then explain that you can write down what you are talking about by writing
3x2. Make sure you explain what the symbols mean.
d. An easy way to show how multiplication works is to draw out a chart like this:
e.

3 blocks by 2 blocks is 6 blocks.

We write this as 3x2=6
When practicing multiplication, have your child draw out the
questions like this until they understand the concept.
f. You can explain to the child why we use multiplication. Relate it back to
what they already know with addition. Show the child that we could show
2x3 as 2+2+2. Try doing bigger equations like 4x5 which can be shown as
4+4+4+4+4. Explain that people use multiplication because it saves time. It
takes too long to write out 6x7 as 6+6+6+6+6+6+6. IN a way, multiplication
makes math FASTER and EASIER
3. Logical Use of Symbols
a. At this point, your child should be comfortable with the idea that __x__=__
represents a concrete object. You can test your childs understanding by
asking them to show you what 2x3 means using pictures or objects. If they
can explain back to you that 2 groups of 3 items equals six and then relate
it back to the symbols (numbers and equation), then you know you are
ready to move on
b. Now you can begin to help your child become familiar with the times tables.
It is not useful to teach the times tables when the child DOES NOT understand
that multiplication means something in the real world. The child must first
connect numbers and abstract mathematical concepts to something in the
real world. This concept applies to higher grades as well.
c. You can try to help your child become more comfortable with problems by
asking them math questions about their day. For example, allowance and
play money can be fun. If you have three toys and each is $5, how much
will the cost be for all three toys?

Learning Mathematics the Fun Way

Practical Strategies for Different Learners

At this point, you can use a variety of strategies to help your child memorize their times
tables. Memorization of the times tables AFTER understanding has been proven is actually
very important. Students need to become quick at using their facts as they get asked
increasingly harder and more complex questions in school.
Memorization Tips for Multiplication

Make math time as fun as possible for your child. It will become something that
she or he looks forward to. The key is finding something that will motivate the child.
I find that making the math itself motivating and fun is better than using external
rewards such as candy or stickers as they can sometimes teach the child that
doing math should be followed up by a payment of sorts. If doing math is fun, then
there wont be a need for math bribes.
Set out specific supplies (markers, books, white board etc) that can only be used
during math time. This will make it a special activity for your child.
Where do you start? Think about what your child enjoys doing and likes. Is the child
one who needs to run around and play? Does he or she like music or art? Does
your child really enjoy learning about animals?
Set a time and a specific place for your child to learn. When it becomes a
structured activity, your child will know what to expect.
Keep the time short and plan different activities. It is better to mix up worksheet
activities between math games.
Try not to give your child answers. Try to find different ways of explaining it so that
your child will understand.
Wait after you ask a question. Sometimes your child just needs time to process!

Structuring Math Time

Use a visual schedule to choose the activities for math. This can be anythinga
Velcro chart where you can pin pictures of different activities, a paper flower
where you write in the petals the different planned activities, a football field with
different activities before the goal post.
Have your child help you choose the activities. Give choices between two items:
do you want to do math dice or a poem?
Set a goal for time for each activity so that you do not spend too much time on
any one activity and lose your childs interest (using a timer can be helpful)
If your child has trouble focusing or sitting still, plan breaks between different
activities. You could do a math worksheet, have a wiggle break, do a math game,
have a break, do a timed test, etc. You want to try and reduce frustration as much
as possible
Schedule in a 5 minute time at the end of your math practice where your child
gets to teach you something. It can often be a fun time for your child to be in the
position of an expert and you as an interested and active listener and participant.

Learning Mathematics the Fun Way

Musical Math

Mathstory.com has a lot of fun songs and poems for children who enjoy songs and
stories. This website has been developed by a teacher who uses story and music
to connect with students. You can choose different poems and activities based
on level and topic
Poetry is a useful way to teach math facts. You can make simple rhymes that the
child can memorize about the math facts (ex. 6 times 6 is 36, go outside and pick
up sticks).
You can create a poem book of math facts that you work through over the course
of several weeks.

Art Math

A fun activity is to make a paint by number for multiplication. The child will have
to figure out a series of math problems at the bottom of the page. The answer will
correspond to different areas they can colour in a picture.
Create a book of math facts and allow your child to decorate it

Math Games for the Playful or the Competitive

There are a lot of really great resources out there to make math more fun.
Research different ideas on the internet based on your childs interest
Dice are a really easy way to teach multiplication. You can have a dice game
competition where each player has 2 dice. The point of the game is to multiply
the numbers on the dice, write down the answer. The person who can get the
most math facts in 1 or 2 minutes wins the round. Sometimes it is fun to purposefully
make mistakes so that your child has to check your math and can steal points if
he or she finds a mistake.
Playing store is a great way for teaching multiplication using pretend money
Check your library or local educational store for different ideas
Math bingo is easy to make. The childs bingo card will have different answers in
a grid. You will pull different math questions (ex. Pull 2x3). If the child has the answer
6, they get to put a cover over their number
A deck of cards can be useful to teach multiplication. Play a round of go fish,
except by using your cards to look for combinations. Does anyone have a pair
that equals 6? Does anyone have a pair that multiples to 4?

Active math

Clapping games where you and your child take turns saying different math facts
or skip counting
Jumping games. What is 2 x 2? Jump up and down to show me the answer
Use different objects that your child may like to play with such as balls, toys, etc to
make physical representations of multiplication (ex. Show me what 2x3looks like
with your cars)

Learning Mathematics the Fun Way

Create a treasure hunt that requires multiplication. For example: go 3x2 steps till
you reach _____.
Incorporate math into your daily activities. Have your child help you with baking
and ask questions relating to cooking. Ask different math questions applicable to
other daily activities while you are at home, at the store, etc.
If your child is fidgety, give them the option of standing while doing their math, an
object to fidget with, and a white board to doodle on if needed

Visual learners

You can create a simple white board from white paper in a clear plastic sleeve.
Let your child write on this.
Use graph paper to show different concepts. Graph paper is also great for helping
children align their written work
Use different colors when writing to help illustrate patterns and to make visual
reminders
Create visual cues. For example, create different index cards with things to
remember on them. X or + or - . Ask your child which one will help them out of the
problem.

Math Stories

There are various books available that incorporate math into stories. Stories are a
great way to work on problem solving and literary skills at the same time.
Look for various examples on the internet or in your library.
Create mysteries that need math to be solved

Incorporating Homework, Math Worksheets, and Tests

It is important that your child does become accustomed to doing paper work for
math as this is a large part of the school system
Have your child start by doing a worksheet for 1 or 2 minutes that you time so that
you know where he/she is at. Play some various games working on a specific times
table set (5 times tables etc.). Retest your child at the end by having him/her redo
the math sheet and seeing how many more she or he knows by the end of the
session. Celebrate every step forward.
Incorporate other subjects into math

Does your child like science? Try science experiments that involve using
multiplication. For example, in order to make an airplane that has 50 squares (on
a piece of graph paper), how long and wide would it have to be?
History? Talk about where math came from. Learn about the famous thinkers who
came up with math ideas.

Learning Mathematics the Fun Way

Final Suggestions

The more your child learns to enjoy math and see it in the world around him or her,
the higher the chance your child will feel motivated and able to take on the new
challenges of more complex mathematics.
Encouragement is key. Celebrate every success.
Schedule and structure your time.
Allow your child to take ownership. This means being responsible for homework,
helping schedule time, and being on task.
Tell your child it is ok to ask why or say when they dont know or understand. This
way you can catch an area of weakness or misunderstanding before it becomes
a bigger problem
Consistency and practice are a must. Helping your child get to the point of
mastery with multiplication takes a long time of consistent practice. A child will not
learn multiplication overnight. Repetition and practice make the difference.
Work from easy to hard. Start your child with multiplication tables that are easy to
master: 0, 1, 5 and 10. Once the child has mastered this, you can move on to
harder ones.
Research on the internet. If you are low on time, you can find resources pre-made
simply by googling something like math worksheet five times table or math story
for 5 times table. Pinterest is a good place to look as many teachers post full
lessons and resources online.
Work in conjunction with your childs teacher so that you know what areas need
to be worked on at home, what your child is struggling with, what your child is
doing well, etc. Your childs teacher can often provide you with some great ideas
of what to do with your child.

Learning Mathematics the Fun Way

10

References
Huitt, W. & Hummel, J. (2003). Piagets theory of cognitive development. Educational
Psychology Interactive. Valdosta, GA. Valdosta State University. Retrieved from
http://wwww.edpsychinteractive.org/topics/cognition/piaget.html