Play Two-Minute Multiples

By Brigid Del Carmen

Updated on May 24, 2013

Learning math vocabulary isn't exactly a walk in the park, but as Mary Poppins taught us, if you make a game out of it, almost anything can be fun. This game reinforces the meaning of the term “multiples” and is fast enough to hold the attention of your fourth-grader. Play it one-on-one, or include siblings and friends! No one will forget multiples after participating in this quick review, cleverly disguised as a game.

What You Need:

• Paper and pencils
• Small paper bag
• 9 index cards
• Timer

What You Do:

1. Cut three sheets of paper into approximately 100 cards.
2. Quickly write the first ten multiples for numbers 2-10 on the cards, one number per card.
   • 2: 2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18,20
   • 3: 3,6,9,12,15,18,21,24,27,30
   • 4: 4,8,12,16,20,24,28,32,36,40
   • 5: 5,10,15,20,25,30,35,40,45,50
   • 6: 6,12,18,24,30,36,42,48,54,60
   • 7: 7,14,21,28,35,42,49,56,63,70
   • 8: 8,16,24,32,40,48,56,64,72,80
   • 9: 9,18,27,36,45,54,63,72,81,90
   • 10: 10,20,30,40,50,60,70,80,90,100
3. Write the numbers 2 through 10 on the index cards.
4. Give each player a scrap sheet of paper and a pencil. Shuffle the multiples and place them in the small paper bag. Place the index cards face down on the table.
5. To play, each player chooses an index card and writes his number on the scrap paper. The goal is to correctly write down all the multiples of your number. Remember: a multiple of a number is the product of that number and another number. For example, 15 is a multiple of 5 because 5 x 3 = 15.
6. Set a timer for two minutes. Pull one multiple from the bag and read it aloud. Tell players to write it on their papers only if it is a multiple of their number. For example, if Player A's number is 8 and the multiple picked from the bag is 32, Player A should write 32 on his sheet (8 x 4 = 32).
7. Continue pulling multiples for two minutes. When time is up, each player counts the multiples written next to his number. The player with the most multiples wins! Pick new numbers and play another round.

If the number picked from the bag is a multiple of more than one number being played, treat it like a tie and have each player write the multiple on his sheet. Feel free to lengthen or shorten the two-minute time limit, depending on the ability and attention span of the players.

Once your child masters multiples, try this game to practice factors.