What is a fact family multiplication

Did you know an icosahedron has 20 faces, each an equilateral triangle? Ever wondered how your students could use an icosahedron to practise fact families? These awesome new Mathematics resources are a great, hands-on fact family activity for middle years primary students who are learning about the relationships between groups of three numbers.

What is a Fact Family?

Fact families are groups of three numbers that are related to each other and can create four different number sentences.

Addition and Subtraction Fact Families

Some fact families can create two addition number sentences and two subtraction number sentences.

For example, the numbers 3, 4 and 7 form a fact family and can be represented by the following number sentences:

3 + 4 = 7
4 + 3 = 7

7 – 3 = 4
7 – 4 = 3

Check out our editable Addition and Subtraction Fact Families PowerPoint for more to help you teach this concept to your students.

Multiplication and Division Fact Families

Some fact families can create two multiplication number sentences and two division number sentences.

For example, the numbers 3, 12 and 36 form a fact family and can be represented by the following number sentences:

3 x 12 = 36
12 x 3 = 36

36 ÷ 12 = 3
36 ÷ 3 = 12

We have a great, editable Multiplication and Division Fact Families PowerPoint too!

Hands-On Fact Family Activities

What is a fact family multiplication

Download these awesome fact family icosahedron resources for your students to use when practising fact family number sentences.

  1. Provide each student with an icosahedron template and a worksheet.
  2. Students cut out the net, fold along the lines and glue the tabs to form their own icosahedron.
  3. Students roll the icosahedron to land on one fact family and complete the two multiplication and two division number sentences underneath the corresponding number on the blank answer page.

What is a fact family multiplication

Each of these resources can be downloaded in colour or black and white by selecting your preferred option from the drop-down menu beside the green “download” button.

What is a fact family multiplication

If you and your students love hands-on activities as alternatives to traditional worksheets, you might like to check out these other awesome fact families resources:

What is a fact family multiplication

A sorting activity to demonstrate an understanding of multiplication and division fact families.

What is a fact family multiplication
3 pagesYears: 2 - 4

What is a fact family multiplication

16 cards and a rocket game mat to demonstrate an understanding of addition and subtraction fact families.

What is a fact family multiplication
2 pagesYears: 2 - 4

What is a fact family multiplication

16 cards and a rocket game mat designed to demonstrate an understanding of addition and subtraction fact families.

What is a fact family multiplication
2 pagesYears: 2 - 4

What is a fact family multiplication

Addition and subtraction game cards demonstrating the relationship between fact families.

What is a fact family multiplication
1 pageYears: 2 - 4

What is a fact family multiplication

Addition and subtraction game cards demonstrating the relationship between fact families.

What is a fact family multiplication
1 pageYears: 2 - 4

What is a fact family multiplication

Addition and subtraction game cards demonstrating the relationship between fact families.

What is a fact family multiplication
1 pageYears: 2 - 4

What is a fact family multiplication

Four posters to display in the classroom explaining the elements of multiplication and division number sentences.

What is a fact family multiplication
4 pagesYears: F - 7

What is a fact family multiplication

Two posters to display in the classroom explaining the elements of addition and subtraction number sentences.

What is a fact family multiplication
2 pagesYears: F - 7

Write the fact family for multiplication and division for 7, 12 and 84

Solution

Step 1:

The fact family for multiplication for 7, 12 and 84 is as follows

Step 2:

The fact family for division for 7, 12 and 84 is as follows

What is a fact family multiplication


What is a fact family multiplication

A fact family is the relationship between 3 numbers that can be added, subtracted, multiplied or divided. 

For example: take the three numbers

3, 4, 12

They are a fact family.  Each above number has  a math "relationship" with one another. 

3x4=12       4x3=12     or

12 divided by 3 equals 4. 

12 divided by 4 equals 3. 

Flowers are a great way to practice fact families. And they look great on bulletin boards and hanging around your classroom.

Paint sample strips are a fun and colorful way to turn fact families into spring flowers! 

What is a fact family multiplication

In this activity, I worked with my older student on the fact family:  4, 6, 24.

What is a fact family multiplication

We wrote on the paint samples all the ways that 4, 6, and 24 are related in a fact family. Then we added a stem, and a flower center.


What is a fact family multiplication


What is a fact family multiplication

For my younger student, we chose the number 12 and used the Paint Samples to show all the ways we can add and subtract numbers to equal 12.


What is a fact family multiplication


What is a fact family multiplication


What is a fact family multiplication

This was a great way to practice addition and subtraction and her final product was really cute!


What is a fact family multiplication

Another great way to use paint strips is to focus on just the multiplication facts being learned!

Choose a fact you would like them to practice. I chose 7 for my student.

Then, have them write out each multiplication fact and answer on the paint sample strip.


What is a fact family multiplication


What is a fact family multiplication

These are just a few of the many ways you can use Paint Samples to create math flowers to teach Fact Families and practice Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division. 

Brighten up your end-of-the-year classroom and hallway with this fun math project! 

Have you found a fun way to teach Fact Families?  We would love to hear from you!