Automaticity of times tables 1-10

General

The students memorize the times tables 1 through 10.

Standards

CCSS.Math.Content.3.OA.C.7

Learning objective

Students will be able to memorize the times tables 1 through 10 and quickly give their products.

Introduction

Click on the wheel to determine which times table must be recited. The you have 1 student, multiple students or the whole group recite that times table.

Instruction

First have the students solve the multiplication problem within 5 seconds. Then you have the students solve the problem in 4 and 3 seconds. Show the pile of cards. Explain that you are going to start the timer and drag the cover away to show the first problem. Have the students solve the problem quickly and correctly, then drag the card aside to show the next problem. Try to solve all the problems within the time given by the timer. Then you do this two more times, in which the time given is 5 seconds shorter each time.

Check whether the students have memorized the times tables from 1 to 10 with the following questions:
- Why is it important to memorize the times tables from 1 to 10?
- What is 3 × 4? And 9 × 9?

Quiz

The students complete 10 exercises in which they test their memorization of the times tables 1 to 10.

Closing

Discuss once again the importance of memorizing the times tables 1 to 10. For the closing activity, divide the class into groups of 4 students. Each student gets 5 coins. One student is in charge of setting the time (for example 30 seconds). Then you determine which two students are going to compete against each other. Have the first student determine how many multiplication problems they think they can solve within the time given (for example: "I can solve 10 problems correctly within 30 seconds."). The second student now has two choices: they give up, because they don't think they can solve that number of problems within the time given. The other student then automatically gets an extra coin. Or they name a higher number of problems they think they can solve within the time. The first student can also try to bluff, by stating they can solve a high number of problems, causing the other student to give up. But watch out, the other student can also say "Your turn!". Then the first student has to solve that number of problems within the time. Otherwise they lose a coin. As soon as the timer starts, the fourth student states a multiplication problem on the times tables 1 to 10. The first and fourth student check together if the answers given are correct or not.

Teaching tips

Give students that have difficulty memorizing the times tables 1 to 10 a times table to practice with. Have them practice with a timer in pairs and solve problems in shorter and shorter amounts of time.