Find the Math Fact Family

Are you staring at another long packet of your third-grader’s math facts wondering how she (and you) will ever stay focused long enough to finish it? More often than not, practice of math facts is limited to timed drill sheets and flashcards. But third-graders are more likely to tune into math facts if practice is presented as a game. In addition, the practice session flies by because you and your child are having a blast! Here's an activity that makes a great way to get your child to work on her division facts - because the work is secretly disguised as a game!

• paper
• pencils
• fact family strips

What You Do:

Step 1:
Cut paper and make several (20-30) “fact family strips” that contain four numbers - three numbers in a fact family and one number that doesn’t belong.  See examples of fact families below.

Step 2:
Before beginning the game, review basic fact families with your third-grader.  Explain that a fact family is a set of three numbers that are all “related” by multiplication and division.  For example, 5, 8 and 40 are a fact family because 5 x 8 = 40, 8 x 5 = 40, 40 ÷ 5 = 8, 40 ÷ 8 = 5.  Provide several examples of fact families before starting the game.  Write down the fact family and ask your child to tell you the multiplication and division facts that can be made with the numbers.

2, 4, 8                          6, 7, 42                        2, 5, 10                        3, 5, 15