Multiplication Mania and a FREEBIE

Now that we have covered all of our math curriculum this year, I have  begun 2 and 3 digit multiplication with my students.  With our Envision Math curriculum, we begin multiplication early in the fall.  I think our 3rd graders almost see it as a rite of passage for 3rd grade.  Our students are required to memorize their multiplication facts through 12.

I love to incorporate literature with math.  Here's a fabulous picture book I love to use when introducing multiplication to my students.

 

This is perfect for introducing the concept of multiplication.  There are so many pictures of "groups of" items.  I also found some great worksheets and activities that others have created to go with this book.  Here are just a few:

http://www.athens.edu/vinsobm/lesson_13.htm

http://www.saskschools.ca/~mathnews/gr3to5/amanda_bean.html 

One thing I like to do with my kiddos after reading this book is to create a class book of riddles.  Students are each given a page to illustrate and create a riddle for.  The riddle may look something like this:  Which is more 3 groups of 5 stars or 2 groups of 8 hearts?    Then the students illustrate this riddle.   I then assemble the pages to create one large class riddle book.  My students love looking through the pages and solving the riddles.   You can get a free copy of the riddle book I created by clicking the picture below.  Enjoy!  

I also use multiplication stations with my students.  They love these and ask for them long after our multiplication is finished.  Here's a peak of our Multiplication Mania stations...

To celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week and as a thank you for following my blog, I will send the first 3 people who comment below the Multiplication Mania Math stations.