If you’re a 4th grade teacher, you know how much time and effort teaching 1-digit multiplication requires. The various strategies and difficulty levels consume almost an entire month of the curriculum.
Why not make it fun for YOU and YOUR STUDENTS?
One of my favorite small group activities that incorporates a little bit of fun involves milk, cookies, and multiplication…need I say more?
1-Digit Multiplication Match with Milk 'n' Cookies
I created this activity with three objectives in mind: differentiate to meet the needs of all students, keep students engaged and motivated, and help me assess their understanding.
What I didn’t expect was how MUCH my students would enjoy it!
To play this matching game, spread the milk and cookies around your teacher table. The cookies are labeled with 1-digit multiplication problems, and the milks are labeled with the answers.
The goal is simple: Solve the 1-digit multiplication problem on the cookie and find the correct answer on a milk. I had my students make four matches, so they had to solve four multiplication problems.
How to Differentiate this 1-digit multiplication matching game
To differentiate this activity, combine several sets together. For example, when teaching 2-by-1-digit multiplication, include 3-digit questions to challenge your higher students.
The same goes for when teaching 3-digit multiplication (include 4-digit problems). This will ensure that all students have a difficulty level that is just right for them.
A major perk is being able to use this resource for several days and with any strategy such as area model, partial product, and the standard algorithm. In fact, I used it for an entire week, and my students were engaged and motivated each time they sat down to find their milk and cookie matches. Not having to prep a new activity each day will save you much-needed time!
Take a look at this activity in action from my Instagram Reel!
If you want to motivate students even further, consider giving them an actual cookie when they finish! I only did this on the first day, and let me tell you…their eyes were on the prize as they worked through their 1-digit multiplication problems. Because of this small incentive, they will be excited and ready to work hard when they arrive at your teacher table.
1-Digit Multiplication: Assess Student Understanding
Even before students attempt the multiplication problems, you can assess their confidence and understanding by the cards they choose. Those who choose the 2 x 1-digit multiplication problems are most likely feeling unsure about this skill, so you may need to step in and give them additional support.
On the other hand, students who go straight to the 4 x 1-digit multiplication problems are probably feeling pretty confident, so they might not need your support as much as the others.
Now, while I do love watching students solve challenging problems from the start, it’s more meaningful for me to witness a student begin with the 2 x 1-digit problems and eventually make it to the 4 x 1-digit problems. Your teacher heart will nearly burst as you witness them overcome challenges and work their way up to more difficult problems!
What makes this activity even more meaningful is the amount of error analysis required. Students who cannot find a match must look back and find their mistakes. They might find an answer that is close but not exact, so it forces them to analyze every part of their work. Getting students to check their work is a struggle, but this activity motivates them to do so!
So what are you waiting for? Make a trip to your local Dollar Store, pick up a box of chocolate chip cookies, and grab this 1-Digit Multiplication Milk and Cookies Matching Game!
In case you’re interested, I have lots of 2-digit multiplication tips too!
Until next time,
Happy Teaching!
-Annamarie
P.S. If you need additional ideas for small group activities, I share much more in Episode 13 of Elementary Math Chat! EP 13: 6 Small Group Activities for Every Math Teacher
