Strategies for Multiplying Decimals

Introduce the game by reading the Three in a Row game pages in the Student Activity Book aloud as a class. Display the game board and demonstrate several rounds by playing with a student. To play this game, each student pair needs only one game board. A player chooses two factors from the Factor Frame and finds their product using a calculator or paper and pencil. Players may also choose one factor and multiply it by itself e.g., 4.93 × 4.93. The player then covers the square on the Product Board with the number closest to their product. The first player to cover three squares on the Product Board in a row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally is the winner.

Instruct students to play the game with a partner. This is a game of estimation and strategy. Encourage students to look for patterns as they multiply the factors they choose.

Students can take home the Three in the Row pages to play the game with a family member as homework.