Multiplication Valentines

My creative juices actually got flowing for once, and I came up with a new activity for Zach to practice his multiplication facts. It may not be the most original idea, but Zach really liked it, much to my delight.

I wanted to make something like flashcards, but with a fun way to self check. He likes matching games so I decided to make an activity where you match the problem with the answer. I went through my supplies to see what I could use to make the game and found these conversation heart bulletin board cutouts. Perfect with Valentines Day coming up! I wrote the multiplication fact and the answer on the backs and then cut them up between the two parts. I had duplicates of each design to make it more challenging. I also wrote some vertically and some horizontally. I was only able to do the facts for the 6-12 families (I avoided duplicates like 6x7 and 7x6), but those are the ones he doesn't know real well yet so it will be good practice for now and later.

Anyway, he did great putting the cards together. I laid out all the pieces fact side up and when he found two pieces that went together, he would flip them over to check. If the two pieces fit together and made a match, he got to set it aside. He was tempted to put them together by looking at the fronts first but it wasn't that easy because of the duplicate designs (plus, they weren't always cut in the same spot). He had to make sure the problem and answer matched too. Also, I let him use a multiplication chart if he needed help with an answer.

I plan on making more of these for the addition and subtraction facts that Katelyn is learning. I got a gift certificate from my dad for Christmas for the Teacher Store so I can't wait to go pick out some more cutouts! I think you can also get them at office supply stores and places like Walmart. They are so many things you can do with them- counting, patterning, color to color word, number to number word, anything you want to match!