LESSON 4 Paper-and-Pencil Multiplication

Multiplication Digits Game

The object of the game is to get the largest (or smallest) correct answer to a multiplication problem. Any number of people can play.

Materials

• one set of Digit Cards 0–9
• paper and pencils

Directions

1. One person is the leader and the others are players. The leader chooses whether the largest or smallest answer will win and draws one game board so that all of the players can see it.

2. Each player draws the game board on his or her paper.
3. The leader shuffles the cards, places them face down, picks the top card, and reads the digit to all the players.
4. Each player writes that digit in one of the boxes on his or her game board. Each player must decide where to place the digit in order to get the largest (or smallest) answer. Once a player has written down a digit, it may not be moved. No digit will be repeated.
5. The leader places the first card in a discard pile then reads the next card. Players place this digit in another empty box. Play continues until all the boxes are filled.
6. When all the boxes are filled, players multiply to find their answers. Since the player with the largest (or smallest) correct answer wins the game, players should check their answers using a second strategy or estimate to see if their answers are reasonable.