Multiplication Review Songs - 4th Grade Math

Engaging multiplication songs and activities to help master multiplication facts for 1-digit numbers.

Multiplication Songs and Activities
Multiplication Song: The Times Table Rap
The Times Table Rap
🎵 Multiplication, multiplication, let's go! Times tables, times tables, here we go! 2 times 1 is 2, 2 times 2 is 4 3 times 3 is 9, 4 times 4 is 16 5 times 5 is 25, 6 times 6 is 36 7 times 7 is 49, 8 times 8 is 64 9 times 9 is 81, 10 times 10 is 100 Multiplication facts, we know them all! 🎵
Chorus: "Multiply, multiply, it's so easy when you try!"
How to use this song:
  1. Practice singing along daily to reinforce multiplication facts
  2. Focus on one set of facts at a time (e.g., 2s, then 3s, etc.)
  3. Use rhythm and beat to help with memory retention
Learning benefits:

• Rhythm and melody: Help encode information in long-term memory

• Repetition: Strengthens neural pathways for quick recall

• Engagement: Makes learning multiplication facts enjoyable

Multiplication Song: The Skip Counting Song
The Skip Counting Song
🎵 Skip count, skip count, counting by a number Skip count, skip count, that's how facts get stronger Count by 2s: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 Count by 3s: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24 Count by 4s: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32 Skip counting helps us multiply with ease! 🎵
Chorus: "Skip count by the number, multiplication power!"
How skip counting connects to multiplication:

Skip counting by 3s (3, 6, 9, 12, 15...) gives us the 3 times table: 3×1=3, 3×2=6, 3×3=9, 3×4=12, 3×5=15...

Key connection:

Skip counting is repeated addition, which is the foundation of multiplication!

Multiplication Song: The Fact Family Dance
The Fact Family Dance
🎵 3 times 4 is 12, 4 times 3 is 12 too These numbers dance together, they're a fact family crew 12 divided by 3 is 4, 12 divided by 4 is 3 Multiplication and division, they're connected, you see! 🎵
Chorus: "Fact families stick together, multiplication forever!"
Fact family definition:

A group of related multiplication and division facts using the same numbers

Example fact family for 3, 4, 12:

3 × 4 = 12

4 × 3 = 12

12 ÷ 3 = 4

12 ÷ 4 = 3

Multiplication Tables and Patterns
\(a × b = b × a\)
Commutative Property
Multiplication Table for 2s
Multiplicand × Multiplier = Product
2 × 1 = 2
2 × 2 = 4
2 × 3 = 6
2 × 4 = 8
2 × 5 = 10
2 × 6 = 12
2 × 7 = 14
2 × 8 = 16
2 × 9 = 18
2 × 10 = 20
Memory trick for 2s:

All products in the 2s table are even numbers!

Pattern:

Each product increases by 2 from the previous one (skip counting by 2s)

Multiplication Table for 5s
Multiplicand × Multiplier = Product
5 × 1 = 5
5 × 2 = 10
5 × 3 = 15
5 × 4 = 20
5 × 5 = 25
5 × 6 = 30
5 × 7 = 35
5 × 8 = 40
5 × 9 = 45
5 × 10 = 50
Memory trick for 5s:

All products in the 5s table end in either 0 or 5!

Pattern:

Products alternate ending in 5 and 0 (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30...)

Multiplication Table for 9s
Multiplicand × Multiplier = Product
9 × 1 = 9
9 × 2 = 18
9 × 3 = 27
9 × 4 = 36
9 × 5 = 45
9 × 6 = 54
9 × 7 = 63
9 × 8 = 72
9 × 9 = 81
9 × 10 = 90
Memory trick for 9s:

The digits of each product add up to 9 (e.g., 18: 1+8=9, 27: 2+7=9, etc.)!

Hand trick:

To multiply 9 by a number, hold up both hands. Bend the finger corresponding to the number. The number of fingers to the left of the bent finger is the tens digit, and the number of fingers to the right is the ones digit.

Multiplication Exercises and Activities
Exercise 1: Basic Facts
Exercise 1
Solve: 7 × 8
Solution using song memory:

Recall from the multiplication rap: "7 times 7 is 49, 7 times 8 is 56"

Alternative method:

Think of 7 × 8 as 7 groups of 8: 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 = 56

7 × 8 = 56
Final answer:

7 × 8 = 56

Exercise 2: Skip Counting
Exercise 2
Use skip counting to solve: 6 × 4
Skip count by 6s four times:

6, 12, 18, 24

Connection to multiplication:

This is the same as 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 24, which is 6 × 4 = 24

6 × 4 = 24
Final answer:

6 × 4 = 24

Exercise 3: Pattern Recognition
Exercise 3
What is 9 × 7? Use the pattern in 9s table.
Look at the pattern in 9s table:

9 × 1 = 09, 9 × 2 = 18, 9 × 3 = 27, 9 × 4 = 36, 9 × 5 = 45, 9 × 6 = 54, 9 × 7 = ?

Notice the pattern:

Tens digit increases: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6...

Ones digit decreases: 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3...

Apply the pattern:

For 9 × 7, tens digit is 6, ones digit is 3, so 9 × 7 = 63

9 × 7 = 63
Final answer:

9 × 7 = 63

Activity: Create Your Own Song
Song creation activity:

Create a simple tune for the 3s table: "3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30"

Steps to create your own multiplication song:

1. Choose a simple, familiar melody

2. Insert the multiplication facts into the lyrics

3. Practice singing it daily

4. Share with classmates or family

Benefits of creating your own songs:

• Personal connection: You're more likely to remember something you created yourself

• Active learning: Creating reinforces the information

• Engagement: Makes learning more enjoyable and memorable

Summary: Multiplication Review and Memorization Tips
\(a × b = \underbrace{a + a + a + \ldots}_{b \text{ times}}\)
Definition of Multiplication
Key definitions:

Multiplication: A mathematical operation that represents repeated addition of the same number

Multiplicand: The number being multiplied

Multiplier: The number of times the multiplicand is added

Product: The result of multiplication

Factors: The numbers being multiplied together

Step-by-step multiplication method:
  1. Identify the factors: Recognize the numbers being multiplied
  2. Recall facts: Use memorized multiplication facts or counting strategies
  3. Apply properties: Use commutative property (a×b = b×a) to work with known facts
  4. Check your work: Verify the answer makes sense
Tip 1: Sing multiplication songs daily to reinforce facts.
Tip 2: Use skip counting as a backup strategy.
Tip 3: Recognize patterns in multiplication tables.
Tip 4: Practice with visual models like arrays or groups.
Common patterns: 2s are even, 5s end in 0 or 5, 9s digits sum to 9.
Memorization strategy: Focus on one table at a time, master before moving on.
Essential properties to remember:

• Commutative: a × b = b × a (order doesn't matter)

• Identity: a × 1 = a (multiplying by 1 doesn't change the number)

• Zero: a × 0 = 0 (multiplying by 0 always equals 0)

• Associative: (a × b) × c = a × (b × c)

• Distributive: a × (b + c) = (a × b) + (a × c)

Quick Review Song
🎵 Zero times anything is zero, that's a fact! One times anything stays the same, exact! Twos are doubles, that's so neat, Threes go: 3, 6, 9, and so on complete! Fours are double-doubles, that's the way, Fives end in 0 or 5 every day! Sixes, sevens, eights, nines too, Practice makes perfect, that's what we do! 🎵
Final memorization tip:

Create a multiplication chart and color-code the facts you know well versus those you need to practice more!

Multiplication Patterns Visualization
\(\text{Visualizing Multiplication as Arrays}\)
Arrays Show Equal Groups
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Array Representation
3 × 4 = 12 represented as an array:

Rows: 3

Columns: 4

Total: 12 dots

Array visualization:

Draw rectangles with dots to visualize multiplication facts. This helps understand that multiplication represents equal groups arranged in rows and columns.

Multiplication as Scaling
Multiplication changes the size of a number:

2 × 3 means "2 groups of 3" or "2 scaled by a factor of 3"

This results in 6, which is 3 times larger than 2

Scaling concept:

Think of multiplication as making a number bigger by a certain factor. This helps understand the relationship between the numbers.

Questions & Answers

Question: Why do we need to learn multiplication facts when we can just count or add?

Answer: Great question! While you could count or add repeatedly, knowing multiplication facts makes math much faster and easier. For example, instead of adding 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 to find 8 × 7, you can instantly recall that 8 × 7 = 56.

Learning multiplication facts also prepares you for more advanced math like division, fractions, and algebra. Plus, multiplication is used in everyday life - calculating areas, figuring out how many items in multiple groups, and understanding time and money calculations.

Question: My child seems to forget multiplication facts quickly. How can songs help with long-term memory?

Answer: Music and rhythm activate multiple areas of the brain simultaneously, including auditory, visual, and motor regions. This multi-sensory engagement creates stronger neural pathways for memory storage.

Songs also provide emotional context, which enhances memory formation. The rhythm and melody serve as retrieval cues that help students access stored information. Additionally, the repetitive nature of songs reinforces the facts through spaced repetition, which is proven to strengthen long-term retention.

For best results, combine singing with visual aids and physical actions like clapping or finger movements.

Question: What if I don't like singing? Are there other ways to learn multiplication facts?

Answer: Absolutely! While songs work well for many students, there are several other effective methods:

  • Games: Multiplication board games, card games, or online math games
  • Flashcards: Traditional method that works well with spaced repetition
  • Visual patterns: Drawing arrays, groups, or using manipulatives
  • Stories: Create stories to remember specific facts (like "8 × 8 = 64, that's 64 squares on a checkerboard")
  • Technology: Educational apps and websites with interactive practice

The key is finding what works best for your learning style. Some people are visual learners, others are kinesthetic, and some prefer auditory methods. Try different approaches to see what helps you remember facts most effectively.