Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year, and I love to use all kinds of Halloween-themed math games, puzzles, and other practice activities in the classroom.
Today I would like to share some more games and activities ideas with a Halloween theme to practice arrays and multiplication tables. I had some requests for a print version of the Digital Halloween arrays and multiplication resource and the Halloween Digital Activities- Forming numbers, Quantities, Number Sense. I thought these activities/games are a nice addition to the digital ones.
Multiplication and Arrays
Activity 1
Print the pages with the candy and numbers. If you are practicing smaller numbers print the first candy page 4 times. If you are practicing bigger numbers print the second candy page as well, 4 times. Cut the candy pictures and keep them in piles for each group. Cut the number cards and keep them in a pile face down. The students take turns (or work in pairs/groups) to take a number card. Then they “build” the number using multiple of the (same) candy cards. For example, 24 can be 3×8 candy, 4×6 candy, 8×3 candy, and so on. They try to find different ways to build a number. This is a practice activity that helps to understand multiplication as repeated addition and to start thinking of the multiplication tables/pairs and their patterns.
Once the students are more comfortable with the concept you can turn it into a competitive game.
Game 1
Take 2 of each candy card (numbers (1—6 or 1-10 based on skill level), shuffle them, and place them face down. Take the numbers 1-10 (or 1-6 for lower skill level) shuffle them and place them down face down. (2-3 cards for each number) The students take turns picking a candy card and a number card. They multiply. They can use the other candy cards and build the number if they need to. The student who gets the greater result wins this round. (this rule can be changed during the game to the opposite. The smallest number wins.) Two, three, or more players can play at a time and compare the results. We usually play with 4 players since they sit in groups of 4.
Game 2
I like how this game doesn’t require the students to know the multiplication tables completely but helps them think of the factors of each number and how they can “build” it. It is a step up from activity one where they were building the number with the candy cards. For this game, you need the numbers 6-42 (level 1) and /or 42-100 from the print-outs and all the candy cards once each. Shuffle them and make two piles facing down. The students take turns picking a card from each. If they can build the number they drew with the card they chose they win. For example, if they get the number 28 and a card with 7 candies they win because 7 is a multiple of 28 and they can build 28 with some of these cards. How many cards will they need? 4 So they get 4 points. They can use a multiplication table to help with the answer. When the number of candies is not a factor they get 0 points.
Game 3-Memory game
The idea is the same as above. Match the factor with the multiple.
Take 12 candy cards (once each) and spread them out face down. (you can make an array (4×3). Take 12 number cards 10-42 or 12-100 and do the same.
The players take turns turning a card from each spread-out group. If the candy picture is a factor of the number they take the pair. If not, they keep it back face down at the same place. When all cards are done (or when only not matching cards are left) the player that has collected the most cards wins. Encourage the students to figure out and tell/ the second factor for each matching pair. This way the students are thinking and solving together.
