Multiplication: Musical Chairs

Explicit instruction/Teacher modeling

• Review each of the following strategies for multiplying by model solving equations: partial products, mental math, lattice, and traditional algorithm.
• Partial products: 5 x 64 = 5 x 60 + 5 x 4 = 320.
• Mental math: For 10 x 22 you could think aloud: "I know that when I multiply any number by 10, I just have to add the 0 to the end so the answer is 220."
• Lattice: set up the lattice squares for 3 x 76.
• Traditional algorithm: 4 x 57.

Guided practice/Interactive modeling

• Distribute the multiplication strategies flip books.
• Instruct students to fold these in half and cut on the dotted line to create the flip book.
• Review each strategy with additional sample problems.
• Invite students to the board to solve the problems.
• Students at their seats should follow along and record steps in their flip books.

Independent working time

• Review directions for multiplication musical chairs:
• Students will use scratch paper and clipboards or whiteboards and markers to rotate around the chairs.
• Give each student a starting number.
• Students will walk around while music plays and stop at the nearest chair when the music stops.
• Once they stop, they will look at the number on the index card on the chair and multiply their starting number by that number.
• Walk around to observe students' strategies and mathematical accuracy during this portion.
• You can choose to identify "winners", or students with the largest and smallest products, if you would like.
• After the round, students use their products as their new starting number for the next round.
• Repeat for 5-10 more rounds or as time allows.

• Enrichment: Give a higher starting number for multiplication musical chairs. Give these students the 3 Digit Multiplication worksheet for their assessment.
• Support: Give a lower starting number for multiplication musical chairs. Give these students the Football Multiplication worksheet for their assessment.

• Distribute various multiplication worksheets to your students.
• Have students work independently to complete the worksheet as their assessment using their preferred multiplication strategy.
• Instruct students to label each problem with the name of the strategy they used.

• Have students write in math journals or on scratch paper their response to the following question: Which multiplication strategy works best for you? Why?