Everyone loves a game of tic-tac-toe! You'll love this version of the game even more because your students can practice basic multiplication and division skills while they play! Grab some markers, scissors, and a few blank sheets of paper, and we'll show you how it's done!
To set up multiplication tic-tac-toe, make a regular tic-tac-toe board on a blank sheet of paper. Write a number in each square. These will be the products. We chose to use multiples of two. You can use multiples of two, three, four, and so-on.
Next, you'll make the game pieces. Write out a multiplication fact for every product on the tic-tac-toe board. Use alternate X's and O's to label your game pieces like we did in the picture below.
You'll want to cut these out and flip them over so they're face down. Mix them up to be sure they are randomized.
The rules of regular tic-tac-toe will apply. The only difference is the players will both be using X's and O's to try to get three in a row.
Player 1 will pick a multiplication fact at random, solve it, and place it on the square with the corresponding product.
Player 2 will do the same.
It won't matter whether a player picks an X or an O because both players have an equal chance of picking a multiplication fact that helps them make three in a row, X's or O's.
As always, three in a row wins the game!
You can also play tic-tac-toe with division. For a division game, you can set up your board using the numbers one through nine, like we did below.
This time your game pieces will be division facts. There will be one for each quotient on the game board.
Cut out the pieces the same way you did for the multiplication game and flip them face down. Remember to mix them up!
Now you can play the game the same way you played multiplication tic-tac-toe. Players will try to get three in a row as they determine the quotient for each division fact!
What do you think of using tic-tac-toe to practice basic math facts? We want to hear from you, teacher friends! What other classic games do you like to use with your students to help them practice math skills? Leave your feedback in the comments section below!
For more exciting math practice, be sure to check out the latest math games on iKnowIt.com!
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