Multiplication facts of 4 can be easy for students when they use the patterns in our number system to solve and memorize them. It comes by doubling. And our brains love doubling so it makes 4s times tables easy as a result.

 

 

This is great news because students don’t have to rely on rote memorization from timed tests or 4s times tables flash cards.

 

They can use a 4s times table trick. Or a better name for this “trick” is strategy.

 

Once we teach students this strategy, multiplication facts of 4s aren’t so tricky for students anymore. In fact, they’re easy.

 

So let’s get into how to teach this 4s times table trick so students can quickly master multiplication facts of 4.

 

Want to see how this fits into your full math fact fluency plan?

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What Are Multiplication Facts of 4?

 

We know multiplication deals with equal groups. So if we have 4 equal groups, that’s a multiplication fact of 4. For example, 4×5 is 4 groups of 5.

 

Now since 2+2=4, we can split those 4 groups into 2 groups of 2. So let’s look back at our example of 4×5. 5+5=10. And 5+5=10. And 10+10=20. That means if we take 5 and double it we get 10. And if we double it again, we get 20.

 

So with multiplication facts of 4, our 4s times table trick is to double and double again.

 

Let’s break this down into steps so it’s even easier to see what I mean:

The Double & Double Again Strategy

• Start with any fact of 4 (e.g., 4×5)

• Double the other number: 5 + 5 = 10

• Double again: 10 + 10 = 20

• So, 4×5 = 20

Find all of my lesson materials and resources for teaching the doubles and double again strategy here.

 

It’s really cool because this “trick” or strategy works for any multiplication fact of 4. And as students use this strategy, they make mental connections between the numbers and facts. What does that mean? It means they will naturally commit the facts to memory. No timed drills or flash cards needed.

 

But students do need instruction on this strategy and practice. So let me share how I teach this multiplication facts of 4 strategy to students.

 

How to Teach the 4s Times Tables with the Double & Double Again Strategy

 

I first start with direct instruction. That means I’m going to explicitly show students how to use the double and double again strategy.

To do this I like to use display pages. I project these up on our whiteboard and use them as slides.

 

 

Students need to know the meaning behind this strategy, so I like to show it visually with a set model.

 

This is where I show 4 circles and in each circle has 6 dots. It represents 4×6 or 4 groups of 6. We take 2 of the circles and double 6 to get 12. Then we double again to get 24. That means 4×6=24.

 

We do another set model problem together.  Then I show students what this looks like with an area model. The display page shows an area model with 2 different colors. 2 rows are red and the 2 rows underneath are yellow.

 

I help students take the first row and double it. 8 doubled is 16. Then we double that again and get 32. That makes 4×8=32.

 

We practice another area model problem together.

 

But I want to really solidify students’ understanding of this strategy, so I show it visually again with an array. 2 rows of the array are one color. And the 2 rows underneath are another color. 

 

We see the first doubles fact with the top 2 rows. Then we double that to get the answer.

 

It’s great to show this strategy with models because it gives meaning behind the facts and the strategy. Learn more about all these multiplication models in this blog post here: 4 Essential Multiplication Models That Set the Foundation to Fluency

 

But we want this strategy to become a mental strategy for students. 

 

That means we now need students to work with numbers instead of models or pictures.

 

To do this I like students to write out the repeated addition equation. Let’s look at an example with 4×7. That means it is 4 groups or 7 or 7+7+7+7. We take 7+7 to get 14. Then double that to get 28. So 4×7=28.

 

We practice a few more problems like this as a class and then students are ready to get their own practice. I like to do this 4 times table fun worksheets.

 

4 Times Table Fun Worksheets

 

I use these worksheets first as guided practice. Students have the worksheet in front of them and I have the same one projected up on the board. We do a couple problems from it together, then I let students try by themselves. As they are working, I’ll walk around and monitor students’ work and help individual students when needed.

 

 

We start with a worksheet with the set models, then move on to area models, to arrays, and then just to using the numbers.

 

Students think the area model worksheets are especially fun because they get to take 2 colors of crayons to split the multiplication facts of 4 into the 2 groups. That way they can easily double and double again to get the answer.

 

I love these worksheets because they have the same format I used to teach the double and double again with the display pages. That means students understand what to do and can just get started right away.

 

Find these 4 times table fun worksheets here.

 

But this isn’t the only practice I give to students. I have them also do engaging task card activities.

 

Why Task Cards Are Better Than 4s Times Tables Flash Cards

So we are not going to use flash cards, we are going to get them practice with the strategy with task cards. These help students work through the strategy so they can build mental connections and commit the facts of 4 to memory.

 

 

Task cards are more effective than flash cards.

 

So what are the task cards I use? I use 5 different sets.

 

• Set Models
• Arrays
• Area Models
• Repeated Addition
• Just the Equations

 

I may only have students do one of these sets during our main whole class lesson. But then I use the rest during centers, small groups, or intervention.

 

The ones with the models are great as a scoot activity. I tape the task cards up around our classroom. Students take a recording sheet and go around to the different task cards. They look at the model, think about the multiplication fact of 4 it represents, and then use the double and double again strategy to solve.

 

For the task cards that show the strategy with repeated addition, these are best to laminate and have students use dry-erase markers on them. Students follow the structure on these task cards to double and double again. This set of task cards help students turn this strategy into a mental strategy.

 

 

The last set up task cards I give students is the set where they just have the equation. Students have to mentally use the double and double again strategy to solve with no visual supports. If students can do these, they have mastered multiplication facts of 4.

 

But I still like to get students even more practice to keep this strategy fresh in their minds. And I do this with a 4 times table printable puzzle.

 

Reinforce 4s Times Tables with a Printable Puzzle Activity

For this puzzle activity, I love to have students work with a partner. That makes it so students are naturally talking about the math, which will deepen their understanding of the strategy even more.

 

 

The puzzles show multiplication facts of 4 with set models. Then they have to line up the pieces for doubling the numbers in the set models to get the answer.

 

This is one of my students’ favorite activities. It keeps students engaged while reinforcing the strategy. I can leave them out as a center activity or as a fast finisher activity.

 

Find these 4 times table printable puzzles to use with your students here.

 

Final Thoughts on Teaching Multiplication Facts of 4

 

We don’t need to drill-and-kill students with timed tests or flash cards for them to master multiplication facts of 4. Instead, we can use the patterns of our number system to show them the double and double again strategy.

 

As students learn this strategy, they make connections with the numbers and facts. Those connections help them commit the facts to memory in a meaningful way. They aren’t just relying on rote memorization.

 

For students to learn this strategy it does take some work. That means we need to explicitly teach them the strategy and then get them plenty of practice with it.

 

I like to do this with display pages, worksheets, task cards, and a puzzle activity.

 

Find all of my lesson and practice materials to teach this strategy easily here.

 

Or find it in a money-saving bundle with all my multiplication and division fact strategy resources here.

 

You may still have some questions about this 4s times table trick. So let’s go over some frequently asked questions I have gotten from teachers.

 

When should I teach multiplication facts of 4?

 

This is a great strategy for 3rd grade students and for 4th grade students who are still struggling with fact fluency.

 

Here’s the order I like to teach multiplication facts. I’ll first start with teaching what multiplication means. I do with the models and word problems. 

 

Then I teach easy multiplication facts. These are facts of 0, 1, 5, 9 and 10. Learn more in this blog post here.

 

After that, I teach double facts and the double plus one more set strategy. This helps students learn facts of 2 and 3. Learn more in this blog post here.

 

And then students are ready to learn multiplication facts of 4.

 

After that we teach a strategy to help them learn facts of 6 and 8. Then I teach a strategy that helps them figure out any multiplication fact. Learn about all these strategies in this blog post here: 9 Proven Multiplication Strategies That Build Lasting Fluency

 

How can this 4s times table trick help my struggling students?

 

It will make it so multiplication facts of 4 aren’t so scary anymore. They can use this simple strategy or trick to solve. As they work with the different models, they will be meaning behind the facts and behind multiplication. This will increase their number sense, helping them in all aspects of math.

 

What’s the best way to teach multiplication facts of 4?

 

It’s a strategy-based approach. The double and double again strategy helps students discover the answer to facts by themselves. This makes it so they can naturally memorize the facts without needing to be drilled again and again by timed tests or flash cards.

For the best path to follow to help your students master all math facts. Grab your free copy of my workbook: 7 Steps to Ensure Math Fact Fluency

 

Hope you have found this blog post helpful. I can’t wait for you to teach this strategy to your students!