Learning to Multiply by 8 with Visual Models

MatholiaChannel

This educational video provides a clear and visual introduction to multiplying by 8, designed to help elementary students grasp the concept of repeated addition and skip counting. Using engaging animations of spiders and counting cubes, the video demonstrates how multiplication serves as a faster way to count groups of equal numbers. It guides viewers through specific examples, such as calculating the total number of legs on six spiders and counting cubes in seven stacks of eight, effectively bridging the gap between concrete visual aids and abstract mathematical equations. The content focuses on three primary mathematical strategies: visual grouping, skip counting sequences, and memorizing multiplication facts. By presenting the same concept through different visual models—biological (spiders), geometric (cubes), and linear (number line)—it caters to various learning styles. The video culminates by displaying the full multiplication table for the number 8, reinforcing the pattern of adding eight to reach the next product. For educators, this video is an excellent resource for introducing or reinforcing the 8 times table. It offers ready-made visual anchors that can be replicated in the classroom with physical manipulatives or drawing activities. The clear pacing allows for interactive viewing, where teachers can pause before answers are revealed to check for understanding. It effectively transitions students from additive thinking to multiplicative thinking, making it a valuable tool for math fluency lessons.