Lesson: Using a Multiplication Table
Introducing the Concept
Students are introduced to a multiplication table in this lesson. They learn how to use the table to fill in the products for the factors 0 to 5 and 10.
Materials: transparency of a multiplication table and an overhead projector for demonstration; a multiplication table for each student. You may wish to use the transparency for the multiplication table in the Learning Tool 14 or 15 in the Learning Tools Folder.
Preparation: Prepare the multiplication tables with factors through 10. Label the top of the table Columns and the left side Rows. Leave the squares inside the table blank.
Prerequisite Skills and Background: Students should know the multiplication facts for factors 0 to 5 and 10.
- Display the multiplication table on the overhead projector.
- Say: This is a multiplication table. We will show the multiplication facts we already know on the table.
- Point to the left side of the table.
- Say: These are rows. Rows go across.
- Point to the top of the table.
- Say: These are columns. Columns go up and down.
- Point to the numbers across the top and down the left side of the table.
- Say: These numbers are factors.
- Point to the empty squares inside the table.
- Say: This is where we will write the products.
- Point to the row for 0.
- Ask: When 0 is a factor, what is the product? (0)
Have students write 0s in the row for 0 as you write them on the overhead.Point to the column for 0.
- Ask: What products belong in this column? (0s)
Have students write 0s in the column for 0 as you write them on the overhead.Point to the row for 1.
- Ask: When 1 is a factor, what is the product? (the other factor)
Have students write the products in the row for 1 as you write them on the overhead. Repeat this step in the column for 1. - Write2 x 2 =
on the board. - Ask: What are the factors in this multiplication sentence?
(2 and 2) - Say: Find the row for 2 and the column for 2 on your multiplication table. Then find the square where the row and the column meet.
- Ask: What is the product of 2 and 2? (4)
Have students write 4 in the square where the row and column meet as you write it on the overhead. Then replace in the multiplication sentence with 4. - Write2 x 3 = on the board.
- Ask: What are the factors in this multiplication sentence?
(2 and 3) - Say: Find the row for 2 and the column for 3. Then find the square where the row and column meet.
- Ask: What is the product of 2 and 3? (6)
Have students write 6 in the square where the row and column meet as you write it on the overhead. Then replace in the multiplication sentence with 6. - Ask: What does the Commutative Property of Multiplication tell us?
Changing the order of the factors does not change the product. - Write3 x 2 = on the board.
- Say: Find the row for 3 and the column for 2. Then find the square where the row and column meet.
- Ask: What is the product of 3 and 2? (6)
Have students write the product in the square where the row and column meet as you write it on the overhead. Then replace in the multiplication sentence with 6. - Say: Write the products in the table for all the multiplication facts that have 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 10 as a factor. Leave the squares for the other products blank.
On the overhead, outline the squares that students will leave blank. When students finish, collect their tables so they can use them in the next lesson.
