The PlanBee Blog

Times Table Games: Fun Ways to Help Children Master Multiplication

Learning times tables doesn't have to mean endless repetition and worksheets. In fact, one of the most effective ways to help children build confidence with recalling multiplication facts is through engaging, interactive times table games.  Whether you're teaching in the classroom or supporting learning at home, using times table games is a fantastic way to help children understand, recall and remember multiplication facts.  Why Use Times Table Games?  Times tables are a foundational maths skill but many children find them challenging to memorise. Multiplication games help by:  Making learning feel fun and low-pressure  Encouraging repetition without boredom Building confidence through play  Supporting different learning styles  Promoting quick recall in a natural way When children are enjoying what they're doing, they're far more likely to retain what they've learned. And who doesn't love a game?!  8 Times Tables Games to Try Lightning On the board, write multiples from the times tables you want the children to focus on, such as multiples of 3 and 4. Choose two children at a time to stand either side of the board. Call out a question, such as 6 x 3. The first child to point to the correct answer wins. The other child then sits down for someone else to take their place and challenge the winner to another round.  We use 'Lightning' a few times within our Maths curriculum as a fun plenary activity but it works just as well as a starter to get their brains in gear!  Multiplication Snap  Create a set of cards so that one card has the question and one card has the answer to a times table fact, such as '7 x 3' and '21'. Provide each pair with a pile of cards and shuffle them. Children to then each place a card face-up. When a matching pair appears, players shout "Snap!" This works best by focussing on one times table at a time and having multiple cards for the same number fact to increase the chances of a pair being found.  Roll and Multiply  Give children a target number, such as 50. Children take it in turns to roll two dice and multiply the two numbers together. They note their answer down and continue to add their answers to their total each time they roll the two dice. The first child to reach their target number wins.  You can extend this for children in the upper end of KS2 by giving them four dice. They roll the four dice to make two two-digit numbers. Using their reasoning to create two-digit numbers that will give them the highest product is an added challenge!  Make a Square A similar game (without the need for addition skills!) is Make a Square. Set up a grid with any multiples up to 6x6. The numbers should have the points of a square around each number marked. Children roll two dice and multiply the numbers together. They find the answer in the grid then draw a line to connect any two corners to make part of the square around the answer. It is then the other player's turn.  Once the last line of the square has been completed, that player can colour the square in. The player with the most coloured squares at the end of the game wins. I remember this addictive little game being such a hit with one of my Year 4 classes!  Download here Times Table Showdown  Provide children with a set of number cards. You can differentiate these according to what times tables you want them to focus on. For example, provide two sets of numbers from 1 to 12 for those higher up KS2, or three or four sets of numbers from 1 to 6 for younger or less confident children.   Place the cards face-down on the table. In pairs, children take it in turns to pick two cards and multiply them together. The child whose two numbers create the highest product wins the point. The first children to get ten points wins the game.  Times Table Bingo  An oldie but a goodie, Times Table Bingo is endlessly versatile. Challenge children to create a 2x3 grid and fill it with, for example, multiples of 5 and 6. Call out a question, e.g. 3 x 5, and if children have the answer they cross it off their grid. The first child to cross off all their numbers shouts "Bingo!" to win the game.  As an alternative, have children write the questions in their grids, e.g. 7 x 6, 2 x 5, 4 x 6, and you call out the answer.  Superhero Top Trumps Top Trumps is another activity we use several times throughout our Maths curriculum because it's always such a winner with any class! In the version we use in our Times Table Facts scheme of work for Year 4, each card has a different superhero, along with four categories – strength, hero powers, integrity and wisdom. Each category has a times table fact for each superhero.  Children are given a set of the cards in pairs, distributed evenly between them. Taking it in turns, they choose a category and both solve the calculation on their card. The player with the highest product wins the card. The winner is the first child to get all the cards.  This is such a fun one that we've decided to let you try it out for free! Use discount code TOPTRUMP100 at the checkout to download our Times Table Facts: Lesson 5 pack!  Times Table Board Games  Provide children with a blank board games (you can download a set here for free) and challenge them to create their own times table board games. They could add 'snakes and ladders' features or have a simple game where they move along the board. For example, children could add a question to each square (such as 5 x 8 or 2 x 3). The player must answer the question they land on correctly or miss a turn. Alternatively, they can add the answers in and have to give a question that would reach that answer.  ____________________________________________ Final Thoughts Using times table games is one of the easiest ways to transform multiplication practice into something children look forward to. A quick ten-minute burst of fun at the beginning or end of a lesson can really help children build strong recall skills...without the stress!