Facts and models

Card and dice games provide a motivational way for students to develop recall of known multiplication and division facts.

Facts and models game

Materials: Deck of playing cards (picture cards = 0, Ace = 1), tiles or counters, blank paper.

• The aim of the game is to be the first to use four cards to make a multiplication or division fact.
• Play in pairs. Each player draws five cards from the deck and uses four of them to make a multiplication or division fact.
  For example, Player A draws 4, 8, 3, 2, 6 and can make 32 ÷ 4 = 8 or 8 \(\times\) 4 = 32.
• A point is scored for each multiplication or division fact generated. An additional point is scored for explaining thinking (e.g. "I know 8 twos are 16 and double it is 8 fours.")
• The partner may suggest other facts, and can check by making a pictorial representation or concrete model using tiles or counters.
• If unable to make a multiplication or division fact with the four cards, a player can opt to discard a card and take another from the deck. This is considered a turn.
• If a 10 is drawn it can be put with another card and read as a 3-digit number (e.g. 106). The player can choose to discard the 10 and take another card from the deck.
• The game ends when the deck is exhausted.

You can watch the Facts and Models video.

You can download the Facts and Models video transcript.

Players list the different facts generated for each product in a table and discuss any connections between them.

As a class, discuss any facts that were difficult to calculate and strategies that might assist other students.