Many of you have been asking for 2-digit and more multiplication games. The truth is that I haven’t shared any because concepts like multi-digit multiplication that need the students to take time and do calculations are not offered for the best games. However, I have created some game-like activities that I use to motivate my students and add some excitement to solving two or more-digit multiplication problems.
As you might know by now I like to create low-floor- high ceiling games that can be played by all students by providing visual help on the board or adding manipulatives. This is not possible with the activities below as they are mostly a motivation for practicing the multiplication algorithms. Make sure that your students understand the concept before trying these activities. The students can work in pairs and help each other or even in groups.
Game 1 – Four in a row
How to play
2-6 players or groups/pairs
The students use two 6 face dice or roll one dice twice. The first dice/roll will give them a number from the first column and the second dice roll will give them a number from the second column. They can use two different color dice, one for the first column and one for the other. They multiply the numbers they got. (They do this on their own draft paper or use the template above. The students need to have “proof” that they did the calculations. Also, with the students having their calculations organized on a paper you can easily review a few combinations for the whole class or check their work individually.) I allow the students to use any way they want to solve the problem, area model, partial products, traditional algorithm. If the students don’t find the answer on the grid they know that they need to check their work.
Once they get an answer from their dice combination they find it on the board/grid and mark it by coloring it. If it’s taken by another player they just wait for their next turn. The first player/team to get a 4 in a row vertically, horizontally, or diagonally wins. The players can both roll for their numbers and then do the calculations at the same time instead of waiting for each other.
You can turn this game into a race of who will mark the most tiles in a given time, however, this version is better with pairs or teams.
You can use the board as a worksheet and a single-player game/activity. The students are given a number of problems to solve and then check if they got 4 in a row. They can also race to who will get 4 in a row first.
Game 2 – Make a word
How to play
This game is very similar to the one above with the exception that instead of making four in a row you need to form a word. Every number that you mark on the grid gives you a letter. You collect the letters and when you have enough to make a word you win. The first player to make an actual word wins. You can decide that the word has to be 3 and more letters for a longer play. If more than one players make a word the biggest word wins.
This is a fun game to play with teams and pairs as well. The team gets to roll a number of times let’s say 12 and do the calculations. Then they try to make the longest word with their letters.
You can use the board as a worksheet and a single-player game/activity. The students are given a number of problems to solve and then check if they got a word with their letters. They can also race to who will get a word first.
I hope that you find these games useful.
Below you will find the free and premium versions of this resource.
The free version includes two print games for 2-digit multiplication and the templates for the calculations. The templates help the students to keep track of the problems they solved and the teacher to check the work. Download the free version below.
The premium version includes 6 games for 2 and 3 digit multiplication, the calculation templates, and the google slides version for each game. The students can do the calculations on paper or on slides. The google slides version uses a spinner instead of dice. This is a growing resource as more games (different numbers and more digits) will be added.
Find the premium version here
Check out the multi-digit addition/subtraction and the long division games
Find the bundle with all 3 resources addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division games at a better price here
Check out our collection of multi-digit multiplication activity cards, (print and google slides) now with a worksheets version as well.
The resource includes
- Practicing 1×2, 1×3, 2×2, and 2×3-digit multiplication using the area models.
- Practicing 1×2, 1×3 2×2, and 2×3-digit multiplication using the partial products algorithm.
- Explanations, visuals, and examples
- Puzzles with the area model for 1×2, 1×3, 2×2, and 2×3-digit multiplication.
- Puzzles with the partial products algorithm for 1×2,1×3,2×2, and 2×3-digit multiplication.
- Mental math activities with multiplication tables and more.
- Multiplication Word problems
