Play Your Way to Multiplication!

I'm teaching my youngest daughter about multiplication. We applied some 'real math' today.

While I was cooking lunch/washing dishes, we talked about the times table. I told her about ZERO and then I asked her what 0 x 0 equaled, then 0 x 1, 0 x 2, 0 x 3... to 0 x 12, then the ONES, then the TWOS, etc.... We ended with 2 x 7.

She couldn't figure that one out ' in her head' (this is a new concept for her) so I pulled out two plates and counted out 7 M&Ms per plate.

I explained that the TWO plates stood for the 2, then the 7 M&Ms on each plate represented the 7 in the equation 2 x 7. Two plates with 7 candies on each. I also explained this is a faster way to add.

I had her count the total M&Ms and then when she gave me the correct answer - I said yes now 'Eat Your Treat !"

She LOVES to 'play cook' so I had her get out her play muffin pan and told her I wanted to "order' some muffins.

I also gave her a bunch of pennies she uses for counting. She LOVES to 'take orders' like the servers at our local cafe'. This is "right up her alley' of interests.

I "ordered" easy items (multiplication problems) to start, but I did NOT tell her what I was really doing. I said " I would like to order 6 muffins. On each one I want one chocolate chip" ( I told her to pretend the pennies were chocolate chips.) She did as I asked and when it was 'ready' I CHECKED my 'order'.

After several EASY "orders" I suddenly I gave her this order : "I want 3 muffins each with 2 chocolate chips (pennies) on top AND I want 2 muffins with chocolate chip(pennies) on top of each of them." Hmmmm, that was a 'double order'!

I suggested she write it down to help her remember. WOW, did she like that.... She was a REAL waitress then.... Watch out world!

I helped her by telling her to write 3 x 2 as I was explaining it, then under it I also had her write 2 x 1 . I didn't make her count for the sums (answers). I just let her "play"with the numbers and the concept of the idea that this was multiplication and it was fun and it was being used for a JOB. (real life)

The very last "order" I made 6 x 10. I checked my 'order' and then pointed at them as I counted by tens. I said " These had 60 chocolate chips on top!

I love math! I love home education!