Children often need encouragement to practice math skills. Using fingers can give students a different method to practice addition and multiplication.

Multiplication Trick For 9's

This trick, using your fingers, is a great way to review or learn multiplication facts with 9. It works for facts 9 x 1 up to 9 x 10.

• Spread your 2 hands in front of you with palms out or palms down on a desk
• Count your fingers beginning with your left pinkie from 1 to 10
• To solve the problem 9 x 4, fold down the 4th finger from the left as 4 is the multiplier
• Now “read” your fingers. The fingers to the left of the folded finger would be your “tens”. There are 3 fingers to the left so that means 3 tens or 30
• “Read” the fingers to the right of the folded finger. There are 6 or them – these are the ones
• The answer to 9 x 4 is 36 – 3 fingers to the left of the folded 4th finger and 6 fingers to the right of the folded 4th finger.

This trick gives confidence to young children learning their facts. Let’s try one more to make sure you know what to do.

• This time we will solve 9 x 2
• Fold down the 2nd finger on the left hand as 2 is the multiplier
• The 1 finger to the left of the folded down finger represents the tens
• The 8 fingers to the right of the folded down finger represents ones
• 9 x 2 = 18

Remember, with this trick a child will always get the right answer.

Addition or Multiplication Finger Game

This idea encourages children to practice their math skills in a way that adults can see progress.

• You will need a die, marker board, chalk board, or paper, and a writing tool
• Begin by tracing a child’s hand on the board with fingers spread apart
• On each traced finger, write a numeral 1 to 10 randomly on each finger
• The child shakes the die and writes that number on the board. In our picture we shook a 5, so the number five is written between the hands.
• Decide if addition or multiplication will be practiced. This example shows addition.
• Now add 5 to each of the fingers – beginning on the left 9 + 5 = 14; 6 + 5 = 11, etc.

What’s fun about this activity is you can practice 10 facts quickly and to a child it is just playing a game. To practice again, just erase the numbers and shake the die again. A calculator can be used to check the answers. Also, you can increase the difficulty by using 2 die with a child.