Lesson Plan
Monster Multiply Bash Lesson Plan
Students will practice and master multiplication facts through Halloween-themed word problems and timed challenges, boosting fluency and confidence by solving, sharing strategies, and completing an exit ticket.
Combining a festive Halloween theme with targeted multiplication practice engages 5th graders, reinforces key facts in context, and supports Tier 1 instruction by promoting accuracy, speed, and collaboration in a fun, inclusive way.
Audience
5th Grade
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Hands-on word problems and timed challenges
Materials
Spooky Multiplication Word Problems, Monster Multiply Answer Sheets, Dry-Erase Whiteboards and Markers, and Classroom Timer
Prep
Prepare Halloween Multiplication Materials
5 minutes
- Print one copy of Spooky Multiplication Word Problems per student or pair
- Print one copy of Monster Multiply Answer Sheets per student
- Gather dry-erase whiteboards and markers for each student
- Set up the classroom timer in a visible location
- Quickly review the word problems to anticipate student questions
Step 1
Warm-Up Multiplication Flash
5 minutes
- Project or write one Halloween-themed multiplication question (e.g., “A witch bakes 4 batches of 6 spider cupcakes. How many cupcakes total?”)
- Students solve on dry-erase boards and hold up answers simultaneously
- Discuss mental strategies and correct any misconceptions
- Materials: Dry-Erase Whiteboards and Markers
Step 2
Spooky Word Problem Relay
10 minutes
- Pair students and distribute Spooky Multiplication Word Problems
- Set timer for 5 minutes: Student A reads and solves Problems 1–3 on answer sheet while Student B checks work
- When time’s up, rotate roles and solve Problems 4–6
- Encourage students to explain their strategies to each other
- Materials: Spooky Multiplication Word Problems, Classroom Timer
Step 3
Monster Multiply Timed Challenge
7 minutes
- Distribute Monster Multiply Answer Sheets
- Set timer for 5 minutes and have students individually solve as many mixed multiplication facts as possible
- Circulate to offer prompts and ensure on-task behavior
- Students tally their correct answers at the end
- Materials: Monster Multiply Answer Sheets, Classroom Timer
Step 4
Review & Exit Ticket
8 minutes
- Quickly review one or two challenging problems from the relay and challenge—invite student volunteers to model solutions
- Discuss efficient strategies and common mistakes
- Exit Ticket: On a sticky note or mini-whiteboard, students write and solve one original Halloween multiplication fact (e.g., “5 bats × 7 webs = ___”)
- Collect materials and exit tickets as students leave
- Materials: Dry-Erase Whiteboards and Markers
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Slide Deck
Monster Multiply Bash
A 30-minute Tier 1 Halloween-themed multiplication lesson for 5th graders.
Get ready for spooky word problems, timed challenges, and exit tickets!
Welcome students to the Monster Multiply Bash! Introduce the Halloween theme and get them excited about practicing multiplication with spooky problems.
Lesson Objectives
• Practice and master multiplication facts
• Boost fluency and confidence
• Apply strategies in Halloween-themed problems
Read the objectives aloud and ensure students understand what they will accomplish today.
Example Problem
A witch bakes 4 batches of 6 spider cupcakes. How many cupcakes total?
Solution: 4 × 6 = 24 cupcakes
Model this example problem step by step, highlighting the multiplication strategy.
Warm-Up: Multiplication Flash
• Project one Halloween-themed multiplication question, e.g.:
“A ghost makes 7 packs of 8 candy bones. How many bones total?”
• Students solve on dry-erase boards and hold up answers
• Discuss mental math strategies and correct misconceptions
Guide students through the Warm-Up: Project a question, have them solve on boards, then discuss strategies.
Spooky Word Problem Relay
• Pair students and distribute Spooky Multiplication Word Problems
• 5 minutes: Student A solves Problems 1–3 while B checks work
• Switch roles and solve Problems 4–6
• Encourage partners to explain their strategies
• Use the classroom timer to keep on track
Explain pairing, timing, and rotation for the relay. Monitor pairs and prompt strategy discussions.
Monster Multiply Timed Challenge
• Hand out Monster Multiply Answer Sheets
• 5-minute individual challenge: solve as many mixed multiplication facts as possible
• Students tally their correct answers at the end
• Circulate to prompt and support
Distribute the answer sheets and start the timer. Encourage students to work quickly and accurately.
Review & Exit Ticket
• Review one or two challenging problems—invite volunteers to model solutions
• Discuss efficient strategies and common errors
• Exit Ticket: Write and solve one original Halloween multiplication fact on a sticky note or mini-whiteboard
• Collect tickets as students exit
Highlight common strategies and mistakes. Collect exit tickets as students leave.
Worksheet
Spooky Multiplication Word Problems
Solve each Halloween-themed multiplication problem. Show your work in the space provided.
- A witch bakes 7 trays of 12 spider cupcakes. How many cupcakes did she bake in all?
- A pack of 8 vampires each collects 24 bottles of blood for a potion. How many bottles do they collect together?
- A ghost prints 15 glow-in-the-dark stickers on each sheet and makes 6 sheets. How many stickers does the ghost print?
- A haunted mansion has 16 carved pumpkins, and each pumpkin holds 9 flickering candles. How many candles light up the mansion?
- A mummy wraps 5 large rolls of bandages, each roll measuring 27 meters. What is the total length of the bandages wrapped?
- On Halloween night, 11 trick-or-treaters each gather 36 pieces of candy. What is the total number of candies collected?
Worksheet
Monster Multiply Answer Sheets
Time yourself and solve as many multiplication problems as you can in 5 minutes. Show your work next to each problem.
- 8 × 7 = ____
- 6 × 9 = ____
- 12 × 4 = ____
- 9 × 6 = ____
- 5 × 13 = ____
- 11 × 6 = ____
- 14 × 3 = ____
- 9 × 9 = ____
- 12 × 5 = ____
- 15 × 4 = ____
- 8 × 12 = ____
- 13 × 7 = ____
- 6 × 14 = ____
- 9 × 11 = ____
- 7 × 13 = ____
- 14 × 5 = ____
- 12 × 9 = ____
- 15 × 6 = ____
- 11 × 8 = ____
- 13 × 12 = ____
Answer Key
Spooky Word Problems Answer Key
Below are detailed solution steps for each problem in Spooky Multiplication Word Problems.
1. Witch’s Spider Cupcakes
Problem: A witch bakes 7 trays of 12 spider cupcakes. How many cupcakes did she bake in all?
Solution Steps:
- Identify the two factors: 7 trays and 12 cupcakes per tray.
- Multiply: 7 × 12.
- Break apart 12 into 10 + 2.
- 7 × 10 = 70.
- 7 × 2 = 14.
- Sum: 70 + 14 = 84.
Answer: 84 cupcakes
2. Vampire Blood Bottles
Problem: A pack of 8 vampires each collects 24 bottles of blood for a potion. How many bottles do they collect together?
Solution Steps:
- Identify the two factors: 8 vampires and 24 bottles each.
- Multiply: 8 × 24.
- Break apart 24 into 20 + 4.
- 8 × 20 = 160.
- 8 × 4 = 32.
- Sum: 160 + 32 = 192.
Answer: 192 bottles of blood
3. Ghost’s Glow-In-The-Dark Stickers
Problem: A ghost prints 15 glow-in-the-dark stickers on each sheet and makes 6 sheets. How many stickers does the ghost print?
Solution Steps:
- Identify the two factors: 15 stickers per sheet and 6 sheets.
- Multiply: 15 × 6.
- 10 × 6 = 60.
- 5 × 6 = 30.
- Sum: 60 + 30 = 90.
Answer: 90 stickers
4. Haunted Mansion Candles
Problem: A haunted mansion has 16 carved pumpkins, and each pumpkin holds 9 flickering candles. How many candles light up the mansion?
Solution Steps:
- Identify the two factors: 16 pumpkins and 9 candles per pumpkin.
- Multiply: 16 × 9.
- Recognize 9 × 16 = (10 × 16) – (1 × 16).
- 10 × 16 = 160.
- 1 × 16 = 16.
- Difference: 160 – 16 = 144.
Answer: 144 candles
5. Mummy’s Bandage Rolls
Problem: A mummy wraps 5 large rolls of bandages, each roll measuring 27 meters. What is the total length of the bandages wrapped?
Solution Steps:
- Identify the two factors: 5 rolls and 27 meters each.
- Multiply: 5 × 27.
- Break apart 27 into 20 + 7.
- 5 × 20 = 100.
- 5 × 7 = 35.
- Sum: 100 + 35 = 135.
Answer: 135 meters of bandages
6. Trick-or-Treat Candy Count
Problem: On Halloween night, 11 trick-or-treaters each gather 36 pieces of candy. What is the total number of candies collected?
Solution Steps:
- Identify the two factors: 11 trick-or-treaters and 36 pieces each.
- Multiply: 11 × 36.
- Break into (10 × 36) + (1 × 36).
- 10 × 36 = 360.
- 1 × 36 = 36.
- Sum: 360 + 36 = 396.
Answer: 396 pieces of candy
Use these step-by-step methods to guide students through breaking apart factors, using friendly numbers (tens, ones), and combining partial products. This approach builds fluency and reinforces mental strategies.