Fall Multiplication Craft Printable: Squirrel and Acorn Activity for Hands-On Learning

Are you looking for a math craft to help students work on multiplying? This super cute, free printable fall multiplication craft is a fun way for students to practice this Autumn. This multiplication activity is perfect for 2nd grade and 3rd grade students just learning how skip counting, grouping, and mutliplication are related.

Multiplication Craft

Are you looking for a fun way to teach multiplication that also gets your kids excited? You’re in the right place! Using crafts to teach math can turn a challenging concept into a fun, engaging activity that helps kids understand and remember.

This multiplication craft printable with a squirrel and acorns is just the ticket! Kids choose a multiplication equation and then show their understanding through repeated addition, equal groups, arrays, and skip counting—all while making a cute squirrel-themed craft. Trust me, this is a game-changer for teaching multiplication!

Plus don’t miss tons of fun multiplication activities, hands-on fall theme, and 3000+ free math worksheets

How to Teach Multiplication Using Crafts

Teaching multiplication can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. I remember when I first introduced multiplication to my class; I could see those puzzled looks on their faces. But once I introduced a craft activity, everything changed.

Kids learn best when they can touch, move, and visualize what they’re learning, and crafts are perfect for this.

1. Start with the Basics: Before diving into this craft, make sure your students understand what multiplication is. Explain that multiplication is just adding the same number over and over again. For example, 3 x 4 is the same as adding 3 four times (3 + 3 + 3 + 3).
2. Use Real-Life Examples: I always like to start with something relatable. You could say, “If you have 3 baskets and each basket has 4 apples, how many apples do you have in total?” This helps kids see multiplication as a practical skill, not just numbers on a page.
3. Incorporate Crafts: Once the basics are down, introduce a craft that reinforces the concept. This is where the squirrel and acorn printable comes in handy. Crafts provide a tactile experience that makes learning memorable and fun.

Multiplication Activity

Ready to get started with your squirrel and acorn multiplication craft? Here’s a simple guide to walk you through the process.

What You’ll Need

• Printable squirrel and acorn templates (included in the download link)
• Scissors
• Crayons or markers
• Glue sticks
• Laminator (optional, for durability)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Print and Prepare: First, print out the squirrel and acorn templates. Each squirrel will be the centerpiece, and the acorns will represent different multiplication concepts. If you want the craft to last longer, especially for display purposes, consider laminating the templates.
2. Choose a Multiplication Equation: Have each student pick a multiplication equation they want to work on. For example, 5 x 3.
3. Fill Out the Acorns: On each acorn, the students will represent the multiplication equation in a different way:
   • Repeated Addition: For 5 x 3, they’ll write “5 + 5 + 5”.
   • Equal Groups: Draw 3 groups with 5 dots in each.
   • Arrays: Create an array with 3 rows of 5 dots.
   • Skip Counting: Write “5, 10, 15”.
4. Decorate and Assemble: Let the kids decorate their squirrels and acorns with crayons or markers. Once decorated, they can glue the acorns around the squirrel to show all the ways they understand their multiplication fact.
5. Display and Share: Once finished, display the crafts in the classroom. Have each student explain their equation and all the ways they represented it. This reinforces their understanding and gives them a chance to learn from each other.

Math Crafts

Looking for ways to extend the learning? Here are some fun ideas to keep the multiplication momentum going:

1. Multiplication Story Time: After completing their squirrel crafts, have students write a short story about their squirrel collecting acorns. Each story should incorporate their multiplication fact. For example, “My squirrel found 3 trees, and under each tree were 5 acorns. That’s 15 acorns altogether!”
2. Create a Math Scavenger Hunt: Hide acorns around the classroom with different multiplication problems on them. Have students find the acorns and solve the problems. This adds an element of fun and movement while reinforcing multiplication skills.
3. Interactive Bulletin Board: Turn the crafts into an interactive bulletin board where each day, students can add new equations and representations. This keeps the learning fresh and ongoing.
4. Group Challenge: Pair up students and give each pair a challenging multiplication problem to solve using their acorn craft method. This encourages teamwork and peer learning.

Why Use Crafts for Multiplication?

Crafts make learning math not only visual but also hands-on. I’ve seen students who struggled with multiplication suddenly light up when they can manipulate objects and see the math come to life. This squirrel and acorn craft is more than just a cute activity; it’s a powerful tool for understanding and internalizing multiplication.

By giving students multiple ways to explore a single multiplication fact, they gain a deeper understanding of what multiplication really means.

And the best part? They have fun doing it! So grab your scissors and glue sticks, print out those squirrels and acorns, and get ready to make multiplication an exciting adventure in your classroom. Happy crafting!