Call the class together and ask a volunteer to write one multiplication sentence on the board; for example, 6 × 2 = 12. Ask the class if they can think up a story that would fit this multiplication sentence.
One possible story is:
Each child is wearing 2 mittens. There are 6 children. How many mittens are there?
After they have had time to write their stories, call on several children to share them with the class. If the students wish, they might illustrate their multiplication stories and place them on a bulletin board. Repeat with other multiplication sentences from the 6 table.
Point to the calendar and ask how many days there are in 2 weeks, then what multiplication sentence that would suggest. (2 × 7 = 14) Write it on the board. Repeat with 3 weeks. Next, invite a student to enclose 4 weeks on the calendar with his or her hands and ask how many days there are in 4 weeks. Ask someone else in the class to record 4 × 7 = 28 on the board. Ask the students to write a different problem for each number sentence. After they have had time to work, encourage several students to share their problems with the class.
To continue the lesson, visit the National Virtual Manipulative Library. Ask a volunteer to open the Spinner. Have that student number the spinner sections from 0 to 10 and call on friends to choose a color for each section. Invite a student to activate the spinner and to name the product of the number spun times 6. (For example, if a 5 is spun, the student should answer "30.") Repeat for 7 as a factor.
