Multiplication Strategy Mat Printable

ByChristie Burnett Updated on

Inside: Take multiplication learning beyond rote repetition with this printable Multiplication Strategies Mat for cementing a child’s understanding of the relationships between a range of multiplication strategies.

With a third grader in our home, learning about multiplication is well and truly on our agenda. As well as learning to recite the multiplication facts tables, Miss 8 is also learning a range of multiplication strategies for solving math problems.

If you’re looking for ways to support your child’s multiplication learning, with an emphasis on making the learning fun and engaging, today’s printable Multiplication Strategies Mat is great for developing a child’s understanding of the relationships between a range of multiplication strategies.

Multiplication strategy mat

Some children struggle with memorisation of number facts (I was one of them!) and providing tools that help children realise there are a number of different ways to approach solving a multiplication problem helps them to better understand how multiplication actually works.

Once they learn and understand a few different strategies, they will indeed have a stronger foundation for learning to remember and recite multiplication facts.

How to Use the Multiplication Strategies Mat

The Multiplication Strategy Mat requires the child to draw/make and write to represent a multiplication problem as four different  strategies – equal groups, arrays, repeated addition and skip counting – as well as recording the problem with the correct answer as a complete number sentence. This helps the child to actually manipulate, see and better understand that multiplication is actually all about combining equal groups together to find a total amount.

The strategies included are;

  • Equal groups: The child can draw dots or shapes to represent the equal groupings or use small manipulatives such as beads, buttons or unit blocks. I suggest laminating the printed mat and using a whiteboard marker for the drawing and writing tasks.
  • Array: An array is a group of objects arranged into rows and columns. Again, this can be drawn or made with manupulatives.
  • Repeated addition: The child is learning that by adding the second factor (or number) repeatedly, you can solve the problem. The first factor tells you how many time to add it.
  • Skip counting:  Counting by the second factor, the first factor tells you how many skips ahead to make as you count.
  • Write the full multiplication sentence.

Printable multiplication strategies mat

The problem shown in the centre of the mat is simply a card drawn from our set of multiplication cards. You can grab a beginner’s set here, or check out our complete Printable Times Tables Games Pack which includes printable sets of multiplication cards for factors 1 through 12 alongside 150+ pages of print and play multiplication games.

Times Tables Games Printable Pack

To print your Multiplication Strategies Mat

Download the strategy mat as a PDF file here: Multiplication Strategies Mat Printable . Print and laminate before use.

Having trouble accessing or downloading the file? Please try a different internet browser.
Please note: All Childhood 101 printables are for personal use only, you may not use any part of this content for  commercial purposes-that includes selling the document, giving it away to promote your business or website, or printing the file to sell. You may not share, loan or redistribute these documents. Teachers may use multiple copies for students in their own classroom.

Print the beginnners set of problem cards here.

Printable multiplication strategy mats

For more math fun:

10 Math Dice Games for Kids Math card games for kids


Christie Burnett is a teacher, author and mother of two. She created Childhood 101 as a place for teachers and parents to find engaging, high quality learning ideas.

13 Comments

  1. Love how this great idea makes for a personal marker board space right in front of the student 🙂

  2. Thank you for the multiplication strategy mat!!!

  3. Is there a similar strategy mat for teaching subtraction?

  4. The multiplication one is just awesome

  5. Pingback: Help Kids Learn Multiplication with These Strategy Mats – Lesson Plans

  7. Thank you for the multiplication strategy mar, Christine. I have been looking for something like this for a while.
    Thanks again.

  8. I love these and will use them with students. My one suggestion would be to make the “problem” square in the middle smaller as to leave more room for working in the other areas.
    Thanks again!

  9. Maxine Sparkles says:

    Thank you for sharing such a useful resource. I know it will make a big difference to the children I work with.

  10. Hello Christie! How do I get a copy of your multiplication mat! This is soooo lovely! It is perfect for my class <3

  11. Pingback: Multiplication Technique Mat Printable | | Do a Barrel Roll

  12. Hi Christie! This is absolutely mind-blowing, you have targeted the little champs crazy minds. Thank you for sharing your fantastic thought.

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