Times tables activities – Best resources for primary maths
Get with the times (tables) and check out some of these ideas and activities for teaching multiplication in Key Stage 1 and 2…
- by Teachwire
- Classroom expertise and free resources for teachers
If you’re looking for ways to give kids a helping hand and want to add some variety into the way you teach times tables, we’ve picked out the best times tables activities to engage your class.
If you need a printable times table grid, we’ve got you covered, plus don’t forget to check out our round-up of times tables games.
Times tables activities
Maths mastery worksheets for times tables 2-10
Take a mastery approach to teaching the times tables with these nine times tables worksheets. Beginning with the two times table, the activities and questions carefully build children’s understanding of and confidence with the times tables.
Starting with pictoral examples, the problems move on to the abstract. There are layers of challenge to support children as their knowledge of the times tables grows. Pupils will problem solve using the times tables, learn to spot mathematical patterns and work with basic algebra.
Times tables bumper packs
These packs from Plazoom support the introduction or review of teaching each times table to a class or group. Each pack contains a PowerPoint with practice questions and an investigation, plus an activity booklet with differentiated activity sheets and rapid recall questions.
Super 16 times table facts
The Super 16 are 16 times table facts that are notoriously difficult for learners to remember and recall. Use these Super 16 flashcards and worksheets for starters, interventions or just general daily practice.
Times table flash card games
Use these free printable times table flash cards for 2-12 to reinforce learning in an engaging, effective way. Match cards showing different representations of the same times table fact or race against a timer (or each other) to answer a set number of flash cards.
Maths in real life KS1 maths worksheets
Maths teacher John Bee has carefully designed these resources to expose mathematical structures and allow children to use and apply times tables in the real world.
They’ll support children in using their times tables to count with specific variations to allow for deep thinking and depth of understanding.
Times tables posters
This resource contains full-page, A4 illustrated multiplication table posters for numbers 2 to 9 on separate sheets, with colourful accompanying graphics that include tractors, bees, hot air balloons and apples.
3-step traffic light method
Help KS2 children to use formal written methods of multiplication with this lesson plan which lays out a simple three-step process…
Two times tables activities
Familiarise your pupils with the basics of the two times table by having them work out the total number of ears sported by up to 12 pandas.
Alternatively, can your pupils pick out all the numbered ‘wellyfish’ that belong in the two times table?
Year 4 times tables test resources
This KS2 times tables resource features a range of PDFs and a spreadsheet that will help children ace the Year 4 times tables test. Resources include:
- Times tables posters, including 21 facts
- ‘Draw it, dissect it, derive it, deepen it’ worksheet
- ‘If I know’ FactorFactorProduct mat
- Interactive target boards
‘If I know’ times tables gap fill
This PowerPoint resource looks at what students know if they know that 6 x 9 = 54. The second slide has numbers missing from each sum for students to fill in and the third slide has all numbers missing.
Visual times tables lesson plan
Help your pupils develop a solid grasp of the 1x, 2x, 5x and 10x times tables through visual indications and pattern recognition, with this lesson plan for KS2 maths and pupils with SEN, from Judy Hornigold.
Mastering maths – multiplication and division at KS2
This resource comes as a PDF and an adaptable word document and will push your KS2 students’ maths skills to the limits.
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How to teach arrays
Making maths memorable and fun for KS1 kids is always a bonus, so head on over to Miss Giraffe’s Class for a bunch of activities on teaching arrays that involve cookies, paint, cereal and lots and lots of colours and textures for children to enjoy while they learn.
French fry facts
This French fry facts activity is an addition activity but it’s easily adaptable. The aim is to find different ways of making numbers.
By cutting yellow paper into strips to make french fry counters, children can come up with multiplication facts and drop the fries into the correct box.
Times tables videos
Having trouble getting your learners to retain their time tables? Try a different approach using these videos…
Many tips and tricks for young children may just confuse matters, but they’re great to have as a backup. You never know when one might come in handy to make students’ brains click, and get them over an educational hurdle.
Three Times Table Song (‘Uptown Funk’ cover)
In this DIY cover of the inescapable pop hit ‘Uptown Funk’, the lyrics have been changed to focus entirely on the three times table.
Multiplication Trick
Going from the 3 times table to the 9 times table might seem like a bit of a jump – but as this video shows, kids can get a handle on multiples of nine with this very simple trick…
6, 7, 8 and 9 times tables
Staying with the fingers, here’s a way of working out multiplications relating not just the 9 times table, but also its sometimes tricky ‘6’, ‘7’ and ‘8’ counterparts.
The ultimate aim should still be for the times tables to be committed to memory, of course – but as practice aids go, it doesn’t get much more portable or handy than this.
Learn times tables in under five minutes
Along similar lines, here’s a reliable and extremely speedy method for calculating multiplications up to 10. Used properly, it can be a good way of setting learners out on the right path towards memorisation.
3, 6, 9 multiplications
If it’s a more visual approach you’re after, try this offering from ‘right brain maths’ exponent MisterNumbers, which employs a simple tic-tac-toe playing field to demystify the 3, 6 and 9 times tables.
How to Easily Memorise the Multiplication Table
For older learners, here’s a way of breaking down the imposing 10 x 10 mutiplication table into more manageable chunks. In this telling, the key is to focus on mastering multiples of 3 and 4.
With the 5 times table able to take care of itself, and multiples of 9 up to 10 all adding up to 9, it’s then just a case of internalising a far more manageable grid of 9 remaining numbers…
Times Tables in 10 minutes
Via ATM, here’s a masterclass in memorisation with the aid of a number stick courtesy of Jill Mansergh, who sets about teaching an audience of trainees the 17 times table in 10 minutes.
Don’t miss the ‘Part 2’ follow-up video, in which she expands on the number stick approach, and shows how it can be used to teach times tables to infant and junior classes.
Finger multiplication on steroids
To finish, here’s Mathologer (AKA Monash University maths professor Burkard Polster) taking the finger multiplication technique to the next level – into the uncharted realms of ‘number fingers’ lower than six, negative numbers and a whole lot of writing on hands in marker pen…
4 times table
This technique is so simple you’ll wonder why you didn’t think of it yourself.
7 times table
‘It’s not much complicated.’ You’re right, girl on video. Adorably put.
8 times table
This video includes cool little animated superheroes – Definitely Not Batman and Totally Not Spider-Man (please don’t sue, DC and Marvel).
Multiplying numbers between 6 and 10
This is one of those tricks you think can’t possibly work, until you remember we work in Base 10 because we have that many fingers (or, yes, don’t be pedantic, eight fingers and two thumbs). But other than that, we’re not convinced black magic isn’t involved.
More times tables advice
- Help children memorise times tables by encouraging them to make connections
- Ten ways to engage parents in teaching times tables
- Bring multiplication tables to life with real-world examples
