Multiplication can be a challenging concept to teach to young students, especially when it comes to learning the times tables. While some tables may be easier to learn than others, such as the 2s or 5s tables, the 9s table can be particularly tricky. Fortunately, there are many fun and engaging activities that you can use to help teach your students to multiply by 9. Here are just a few ideas to get you started.
1. The Finger Method
One way to help students learn to multiply by 9 is to use their fingers. Have them hold up both hands in front of them, with palms facing down. To find the product of 9 x 4, for example, have the students fold down their fourth finger on their left hand (counting from the thumb) and count the number of fingers on either side of the folded finger. In this case, there are three fingers on the left and six on the right, so the answer is 36. You can have students practice this method with different numbers and even race to see who can find the answer the fastest.
2. The Baseball Method
Another method to teach students to multiply by 9 is the baseball method. This involves writing out the 9 times table and drawing a baseball diamond around it. The numbers 9, 18, 27, and 36 are the bases, while the numbers 45, 54, 63, and 72 are the outfield positions. The remaining numbers 81 and 90 are home plate and the pitcher’s mound.
To use this method, have students think of a number they want to multiply by 9. They then start on home plate and move around the diamond clockwise, counting the number of spaces they need to move to get to the outfield position that corresponds with their number. For example, if they want to find the product of 9 x 7, they would start on home plate and move seven spaces around the diamond to get to 63. This method can be especially fun for students who are interested in sports, and you can have them write out their own baseball diamond to practice with.
3. The Card Game Method
For a more interactive approach, consider using a card game to teach students to multiply by 9. You can create a deck of cards with the numbers 1-9 and a second deck with the numbers 0-9. Students then draw two cards at a time, and the first card tells them which number they are multiplying by 9, while the second card tells them the factor. For example, if they draw a 6 and a 3, they would multiply 6 x 9 to get 54. You can have students work in pairs or small groups to play this game, and you can also add in extra rules to make it more challenging or to help reinforce other skills, such as addition or subtraction.
4. The Puzzle Method
Finally, you can use puzzles to help students learn to multiply by 9. One way to do this is to create a grid with the multiples of 9 written at the top and down the left-hand side. You can then cut out small squares with the factors written on them and have students arrange the squares in the correct places on the grid. This can help students visualize the relationship between the factors and products of the 9 times table and can also be a fun and hands-on activity.
In conclusion, there are many different activities you can use to teach students to multiply by 9. Whether you prefer a more traditional approach or a more interactive approach, there are plenty of fun and engaging ideas to choose from. By incorporating these activities into your lesson plans, you can help make multiplication more enjoyable and accessible for your students.
