Third Grade Multiplication Games and Activities

Third Grade Multiplication at a Glance

At the third grade level, your child will begin learning how to multiply. Your third grader will start by learning to interpret a multiplication number sentence. For instance, he or she will need to understand that 2 x 5 means two groups of five items or five groups of two items.

Your third grader will then extend his or her knowledge to multiply 1-digit numbers by multiples of ten and identify missing numbers in multiplication number sentences. Sometimes, the product will be provided and your child will have to identify one of the factors being multiplied. By the end of third grade, he or she will need to be fluently multiplying within 100.

Multiplication Race

For this activity, you will only need a deck of cards. Within the deck, each number will stand for itself, while face cards will represent ten and aces will be 11. Lay the cards out face down in a single file line. Your child should begin at one end of the line and turn over two cards at a time. Then, he or she will multiply the two numbers shown.

If your child multiplies the numbers together correctly, then he or she will remove the two cards and repeat the process. If your child gets a wrong answer, then he or she must keep trying. Feel free to allow your child to use manipulatives to visualize the multiplication process if it helps. If your third grader is more advanced, encourage him or her to multiply three cards together.

Roll It Out!

To play this multiplication game, you will need three dice and a plastic cup. Put all three dice into the cup, and then have your child shake it up and roll out the dice. Ask your third grader to manipulate the numbers on the dice to create a 2-digit and a 1-digit number of his or her choosing. For example, if your child rolls a three, a two and a five, then he or she could create 32 x 5 or 23 x 5 and so on.

Once your child has created the multiplication problem, have him or her solve it. Continue rolling the dice until your third grader has had ample practice.