Starting the Times Table ☆ Kindy 3

Hello, everyone.

Thank you for coming to watch and participate in our Sports Day! Kindy 3 had a great time and did so well in their performance! Watching parents participate in the events was really entertaining.

Today we started learning about multiplication and the times table (2x1=2, 2x2=4, 2x3=6, 2x4=8, and so on). A lot of kids get confused between addition and multiplication, so for our first lesson, we worked on understanding the difference between them.

3+3  = 6, but 3 x 3 = 9 (3+3+3)

10 + 10 = 20, but 10 x 10 = 100 (10+10+10+10+10+10+10+10+10+10)

To keep it fun and easy to understand, we used colored blocks.

We worked in groups of 3 or 4 and stuck blocks together to match a multiplication question. For example, 3x4. Each group had to get 3 colors with 4 of each block (or 4 colors with 3 of each block) and stick them together, then check their answer.

(We fixed the colors and tried again after this.)

Now let's try 2x5. Start! 

We can have 5 colors with 2 of each block, or 2 colors with 5 of each block. The answer is the same!

Okay, 5x6. Start!

What does 5 x 6 equal? 30! Let's count them!

Afterward, we did an activity with the number tiles.

Each group made a multiplication question, then moved around the classroom to answer each other’s questions. We practiced doing multiplication when we don’t have blocks to count. For example, for 5 × 7, we can count in fives using seven fingers. 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35!

We also took turns solving each other's math questions one at a time, so that everyone would get a chance to try by themselves.

Multiplication can be difficult, but I think after today we all have a better understanding of how to multiply small numbers, and what the difference is between addition and multiplication.