Students are introduced to multiplication in third grade. Everything is very hands-on and visuals are used to represent these math facts. They may include the following:
- equal groups
- repeated addition sentences
- number lines for skip counting
- arrays
But what happens when students have a difficult time with simple skip counting? You may notice that these students may ‘count on’ incorrectly. You are teaching multiplication, but know that these students need to review basic fact strategies.
I created this dominoes multiplication game to sneak in some basic fact strategies such as subitizing.
What is Subitizing?
Subitizing is the ability to recognize how many pips, dots, or items there are without counting each one.
(Affiliate Link) In Making Sense of Mathtematics for Teaching Grades 3-5, the author explains that conceptual subitizing happens when students are able to combine two amounts of items to determine the total without counting on or counting one by one.
I decided to create a multiplication game using dominoes, so students can practice subitizing.
Multiplication Dominoes Game
Below is a picture of the times 3 mat. The directions are as follows:
- Pick a domino card
- Use subitizing to count the number of dots on each side
- Multiply the numbers (example shown: 12 x 3)
- Place the domino card on the product
Ways for Students to Show Their Work
I also include two work mats students can use to show their work. They can either make equal groups or draw an array for those math facts they have not yet mastered.
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Jill Miles
Love it!
Mrs. Santillana
Thanks!
Kristin Daggett
Your graphic of the array mat for 12X3 is actually showing 13X3. I was trying to make sense of it, but 9 squares is labeled as 6. I thought you would want to know!
Mrs. Santillana
THANK YOU! I’ve updated the image.