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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Problem Solving - Multiplication and Division Worksheet
Practice solving word problems using one-step division and multiplication.
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2-Digit by 1-Digit Multiplication Worksheet
A worksheet for students to practice multiplying 2-digit numbers by 1-digit.
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Multiplication Grid – Worksheet
Test your students' multiplication fluency with this half-page multiplication grid.
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Math Word Problem Match-Up Game - Basic Multiplication and Division
Practice reading, writing, and solving basic multiplication and division word problems with a matching activity.
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5th Grade Multiplication Test - Multi-Digit Multiplication
Assess your students' skills with multiplying whole numbers using a printable 5th Grade Multi-Digit Multiplication Test.
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Multiplication Mountain (Equal Groups) Board Game
Reinforce how to use equal groups to solve multiplication problems with this printable math game.
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Multiplication as Repeated Addition Task Cards
Reinforce how repeated addition and multiplication are related with this set of 24 task cards.
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Multiplication With Arrays Bingo
Review how arrays and multiplication facts are related with this whole-class Bingo game.
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Math Bowl - Mixed Operations Word Problem Game
Score a mathematical touchdown with by solving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division word problems with an exciting football math game.
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Football Multiplication Mystery Picture
Use the color-coded multiplication guide to complete the grid and reveal a mystery picture.
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Digital Christmas Escape Room for the Classroom — Elf Investigation
This exciting Christmas escape room has been created by our teacher team to engage your upper elementary students this holiday season. Help the Mayor of Elfton catch the person responsible for some mischievous events in his town.
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Soccer Stories - Problem Solving Worksheets
Practice multiplication, division, and problem solving skills with a high-interest soccer-themed scenario activity.
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Thanksgiving Math Mazes - Multiplication
Multiply single-digit numbers to help solve Thanksgiving problems with Math Mazes!
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Color by Factor - Worksheet
Solve missing factor equations and color a picture according to a color by number guide.
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Color by Number – Multiplication Fact Practice (Mixed)
Practice multiplication facts through 12 with this fun color by number worksheet.
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Parts of a Number Sentence - Multiplication and Division
A set of 4 posters explaining the numbers involved a multiplication and division number sentence.
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Multiplication Gears Worksheet - Multiplication Facts of 12
A worksheet to use when learning the multiplication facts of twelve.
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Using the Area Model for Multiplication Interactive Task Cards
Give your students digital practice with area model multiplication by assigning this set of 24 interactive task cards.
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Area Model Worksheets for 4th Grade
Teach your students how to determine factors and the product of an area model with this worksheet pack.
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Area Model of Multiplication Task Cards
Guide your students to use area model multiplication to solve multi-digit multiplication problems with this set of 24 task cards.
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Multiplication as Repeated Addition Worksheet Pack
Strengthen student understanding of multiplication and repeated addition with this worksheet pack designed for 3rd grade students.
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Equal Groups Multiplication Task Cards
Highlight how to use equal groups to solve multiplication problems with this set of 24 task cards.
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Area Model for Multiplication Mini-Book
Demonstrate how to use area models for multiplication with this printable mini-book.
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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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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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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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Skip Counting for Multiplication Interactive Activity
Teach multiplication using the skip counting strategy with this fun, interactive digital teaching resource!
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Factor Pairs – Google Slides Interactive Activity
Determine the factors of numbers less than 100 with these interactive slides.
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Thanksgiving Math- Multiplication Task Cards
Practice solving single-digit multiplication word problems with a set of Thanksgiving Task Cards.
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Save Santa's Workshop – Escape Room for Kids
A fun and festive escape room activity where students solve clues to save Santa's Workshop.