H O W C A N I H E L P M Y C H I L D W I T H M AT H S ?

Multiplication

Language of Multiplication

Your child should be familiar with various words for multiplication and then later for division.

Multiply – multiplied by, product, times.

Use ‘multiplication tables’ rather than ‘times tables’. Do not use ‘times by’ or ‘timesing’

Multiplication

For multiplication tables the table number comes first e.g.3 x 0 = 0 three nothings are nothing3 x 1 = 3 three ones are three3 x 2 = 6 three twos are six etc

Table facts are started at 0

Multiplication Square

Using a multiplication square can help children when solving calculations, to build on retention of table facts.

This can be found in themultiplication pack.

Layout of calculations

When multiplying by one digit, lay out the calculation as in the example.

2 6 x 4 1 0 4

The ‘carry’ digit always sits above the line.

2

Layout of calculations

When multiplying by 10, move the digits up a column and add a zero for place holder.

E.g. 4 7 x 5 6 2 3 8 2 2 31 5 0 2 6 3 2

4

Decimal points always stay fixed and the numbers move when multiplying.

Do not say ‘add on a zero’ when multiplying by 10. This can result in

3.6 x 10 = 3.60.

Mental Strategies

Encourage mental calculations as much as possible. The more exposure they have to using mental strategies, the more confident they will become at multiplication facts and the various ways to solve calculations.

In the multiplication pack provided, there is the opportunity to use number fans and number cards and whiteboard and pen to answer multiplication calculations created by you.

Mental Strategies – First Level

Counting in 2, 3, 5 etc (multiplication facts)

Repeated addition e.g. 3 + 3 + 3 = 9 which is the same as 3 x 3 =9

Derive quickly doubles of 5, 10, 15, 20, up to 50.

Respond quickly to oral questions phrased in a variety of ways.

(Six twos, 5 multiplied by 2, multiply 4 by 3, the product of 6 and 7)

Mental Strategies – Second Level

Multiply a 2 digit number by a single digit, multiplying the tens first.

(47 x 5 = (40 x 5) + (7 x 5) = 200 + 35 = 235)

Use factors to multiply  15 x 6 = (15 x 2) x 3 = 30 x 3 = 90     

Multiply and divide by a multiple of 10 or 100 using strategies such as:

-multiply by 20 by multiplying by 10, then double -multiply by 50 by multiplying by 100, then halve -multiply by 25 by multiplying by 100, then divide by 4 -multiply by 15 by multiplying by 10, halving the result and adding the two parts together

Outdoor Learning

Using everyday, real life situations is a good way to incorporate multiplication.

E.g. using sticks and stones to bundle/group.

3 groups of 3 = 3 + 3 + 3 = 3 x 3

Outdoor Learning

Using chalk to:Write the numbers on stones and skip count

in 2, 5 etc

Write number targets on the wall and use a water gun to blast the number to a calculation!!!

Outdoor Learning

Using chalk to:Draw a hopscotch board and write

multiplication calculations in each box.

Draw numbers on an outdoor trampoline and use for jump counting in 5’s, 10’s or to jump on the answer to a question given.

Useful Websites

www.readwritecount.scot www.curriculinks.co.uk

www.multiplication.com www.topmarks.co.uk www.fun4thebrain.com