Multiplication Teaching Resources
Teach multiplication with ease this school year with free printable multiplication worksheets, digital activities, games and more to help students understand how to multiply numbers and apply multiplication strategies to math problems.
This teaching resource collection was created by the teachers on the Teach Starter team for elementary teachers, and each curriculum-aligned resource has been carefully reviewed and curated to ensure it's ready to use with your students!
Explore multiplication charts and tables, methods for explaining the associative and commutative properties and more, plus find differentiated resources to help you meet each student's needs!
Want to learn more about multiplication? Read on for a primer from our teacher team!
What Is Multiplication? A Kid-Friendly Definition
Introducing multiplication to your class? Let's get started with a definition of this math operation that's easy for them to understand.
Multiplication is the process of adding a number to itself many times. It's a simple way to figure out how much you'll have when you add the same number again and again.
Let's look at an example.
Pretend you have 3 apples, and you want to multiply them by 4.
If you did this, you would end up with 12 apples because you added 3 apples to itself four times (3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12).
Multiplication Terms
Launching into multiplication in your math class involves plenty of new vocabulary words for your students to learn! Here are some of the terms you will want to start off with.
Product
The product of a multiplication problem is the result of multiplying two or more numbers together. It's basically the answer to your math problem!
Partial Product
If the product is the answer, what's a partial product? This is the name of each product when you break apart the factors and multiply the parts in a multi-digit number. While there are many ways to solve multiplication problems with partial products, the box method is a common strategy to help students break apart each factor before multiplying.
Factor
In multiplication, the factor is the number that is being multiplied by another number to get a product. For example, in the problem 3 x 4 = 12, the numbers 3 and 4 are factors, and the product is 12.
Multiplication Table
Sometimes called a times table, a multiplication table that shows the products of all the possible combinations of two numbers.
What Is the Associative Property of Multiplication?
The associative property of multiplication means we can change the grouping of the factors being multiplied, and it won't change the product. For example:
- (2 x 3) x 4 = 2 x (3 x 4) = 24
No matter how we group the factors being multiplied, the product will always be the same!
A cartoon version of the multiplication symbol
What Is the Commutative Property of Multiplication?
The commutative property of multiplication means we can change the order of the multiplied factors without changing the product. For example:
- 3 x 4 = 4 x 3 = 12
This means we can multiply the factors in any order we like and still get the same result!
What Is the Distributive Property of Multiplication?
Another property of multiplication students learn in elementary school is distributive. This means we can distribute a factor across the sum or difference of two other factors.
This property is handy when we want to break down a more complicated multiplication problem.
Let's look at an example:
- 4 x (3 + 2)
We can use the Distributive Property to rewrite this expression as:
- (4 x 3) + (4 x 2)
Now we can simplify each of these products separately:
- 12 + 8 = 20
Using the distributive property, we can figure out that the original problem 4 x (3 + 2) — is equivalent to 20.
What Is the Identity Property of Multiplication?
The identity property of multiplication lets you simplify multiplication problems involving the number 1. When we multiply any number by 1, the product is the same as the original number!
Let's say we have the problem 5 x 1. When we apply the identity property, we know that the product of 5 and 1 is 5 itself, since 1 is the multiplicative identity!
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Array, Array, Go Away Dice Game
Reinforce how to match arrays and multiplication facts with this printable dice game.
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Match the Arrays Worksheet Pack
Give your students practice matching arrays and multiplication facts with these math worksheets for 2nd and 3rd grade.
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Cut and Paste Array Worksheets
Guide your students to match arrays and multiplication facts with these cut-and-paste worksheets.
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Number Line Multiplication – Worksheet Pack for 3rd Grade
Guide your students to solve number line multiplication problems with this worksheet pack.
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Number Talks – Multiplication Representation Task Cards
Help your students discover different ways to represent multiplication with this set of number talk cards.
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Number Talks – Multiplication Strategies Task Cards
Help your students build number sense skills and sharpen their understanding of how to multiply 2 digits by 1 digit with this set of 24 task cards.
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Introduction to Multiplication Strategies Teaching Slides
Introduce your students to different multiplication strategies such as arrays, equal groups, repeated addition and skip counting with this 34-page slide deck.
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Large Multiplication Chart (Blank)
Use this 4-page blank multiplication chart to teach your students about finding products, multiples and number patterns.
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I Have, Who Has? – Multiplication Representations
Use this whole-class game to reinforce your students’ understanding of the different representations of multiplication.
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Equal Groups Multiplication Activity
Engage your students with a hands-on activity to practice making equal groups to represent multiplication.
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Multiplication With Equal Groups Spinner Activity
Use this hands-on activity with your students and help them make equal groups to represent multiplication problems.
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Hooray Arrays! Multiplication Worksheet Pack
Download this set of array worksheets to use when teaching your students how to relate addition and multiplication.
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Multiplication With Models Worksheet
Guide your students to determine the product of single-digit factors with various multiplication models.
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Array Card Kaboom!
Boost your students’ understanding of arrays and multiplication with this engaging Kaboom card game.
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Skip Counting and Multiplication Differentiated Worksheets
Use this differentiated worksheet set to provide independent practice using skip counting to solve multiplication expressions.
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Multiplication Using Arrays Worksheet
Encourage your students to practice multiplication using arrays with this 2-page worksheet that guides them to build arrays and write them as multiplication sentences.
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The Case of the Missing Football – Estimating Products Escape Activity for 4th Grade
Uncover the identity of the thief who stole the football with a printable estimating products escape room activity.
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Double Digit Multiplication Worksheets - Halloween Color By Number
Practice multiplying 2-digit by 2-digit numbers with a pair of engaging Halloween color-by-number worksheets.
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Halloween Escape Room - The Missing Treat Mystery - Multiplication and Division Facts
Solve the mystery of who stole all the treats from the Halloween Party with an interactive Halloween Escape Room featuring multiplication and division.
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Halloween Multiplication Color By Number Worksheet
Practice multiplying single-digit numbers with a Halloween color-by-number worksheet.
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Dot Day Multiplication and Division Color By Number
Integrate Dot Day concepts into your math lessons with printable Dot Day Multiplication and Division color-by-number worksheets.
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2 and 3-Digit Multiplication Worksheets- Halloween Cut and Paste
Use various strategies to solve 2 and 3-digit multiplication problems with a set of Halloween Multiplication Worksheets.
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Mystery Pattern Grids – Multiplication
Students solve multiplication facts, interpret coordinate planes, and draw shapes to reveal a mystery picture.
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Roll and Multiply Interactive Activity
Teach your students the multiplication strategy of repeated addition using this colorful interactive dice game!
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Skip Counting by 2,3,4,5, & 10 Mystery Picture
Excerpt: Have your students uncover a mystery picture by solving skip counting problems to and multiply by 2,3,4,5 & 10.
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Skip Counting by 2,3,4,5 and 10 Board Game
Have students correctly answer problems involving skip counting and multiplication to be the first to lay down 4 game pieces in a row!
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I Have Who Has: Skip Counting by 2,3,4,5, & 10
Teaching skip counting? Introduce your students to our I Have Who Has - style whole class games with this fun and interactive card activity!
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Skip Counting for Multiplication Interactive Activity
Teach multiplication using the skip counting strategy with this fun, interactive digital teaching resource!
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Skip Counting and Multiplication Matching Game
Use this resource as a hands on-task to practice using skip counting to solve multiplication expressions.
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Fact Family Safari (Multiplication and Division) Interactive Resource
Go on a colorful safari adventure with your students and help them solve interactive challenges whilst learning about multiplication and division fact families!
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Math Symbols Posters with Vocabulary
Students can often identify the mathematical symbol, but what about all of the different names for it?
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5th Grade Math Review – Google Slides Interactive Activity
Review important 5th-grade math standards with a student-led interactive activity that covers 12 different mathematical concepts.