It is Freebie Friday! Today I have multiplication mats for you- simple but effective tools to practice multiplication/time table facts!

How do you teach the concept of multiplication/ time tables? Do you use hands-on activities or simply rote learn the facts? Children with good memories will learn the facts easily, but others might need visuals to help them grasp the concept.
Use beads or any other type of manipulative with the mats- playdough works well for those children needing sensory input. Using manipulatives helps students to see the patterns. Count in 6’s, for example, then add the beads onto those numbers. See the patterns?
Or, use the beads to make the groups. This is especially helpful for students only starting with the concepts of grouping and multiplication.

These mats can be printed on colorful paper, like I did with these, which makes it ink friendly. Or, print it on white paper and let the students color and personalize it themselves!

Time tables are mostly learnt rote, but it is essential for kids to “see” to understand what they are learning. These visual multiplication mats to exactly that.

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