Multiplication in Year 2
A key part of multiplication at the start of Year 2 is to make sure that children understand the connection between repeated addition and multiplication. Children can find the answer to a multiplication by adding equal groups. Their ability to count in twos, fives and tens will help enormously.
The multiplication sign (×) is introduced and children will also become confident with the use of language such as, ‘times’, ‘multiply’ and ‘lots of’.
Over time children can explore the idea that multiplication is commutative, for example, that 5 lots of 3 is equal to 3 lots of 5.
Children are introduced to multiplication tables in Year 2 (6/7 yrs old) and the latest targets say that they should be fluent with the two times, five times and ten times tables by the end of the year. There are many ways that times tables can be learned, but the end product will be the same; children will know the facts off by heart and be able to answer instantly. Note: knowing the two times table is not the same as being able to count up in twos. If a child has to start counting using fingers to work out what 9 × 2 is, it will take too long.
Learning the five times table will prove quite a challenge for many children who find counting up to 100 hard, let alone reciting the 5 times table. To make it even more of a challenge the table now has to be learned up to 12 times 5 rather than just 10 times 5. There is, of course, a rhythm and pattern to the five times table, as alternate answers end in zero or 5. This makes it one of the easiest times tables to learn.
The 10 times table is often the second that is learnt by children, usually after the two times table. The reason for this is that it appears to be easy. Before attempting to learn the table children should have had plenty of practice counting up and down in tens.
However, there is a great danger with the ten times table in that many children are told to just ‘add a nought’ when multiplying by 10. This is disastrous to later understanding of place value and does not work when multiplying a decimal by 10 (e.g. 2.3 × 10 is not 2.30, it is 23).
We have an extensive range of worksheets and on-screen activities covering all aspects of multiplication for children in Year 2. Take a look now.