
Back in June, I shared some tools we were using to help my eight year old learn her times tables – 8 times tables. Today I am sharing another template which we have just started using and my daughter is loving.
This times table activity works for her as it involves one of her favourite pass times – colouring in! It is a simple activity to do, that you can extend on depending on the age of your child.
Print out a multiplication grid and have your child choose which times tables group they are going to start on, eg sevens. Then get them to colour in each square that is a multiple of seven.
As they work their way through the grid, the kids start to work out patterns and other interesting things themselves. My daughter for example worked out that as she coloured in the multiples of 7′s, they started making diagonal lines down the page. When she was colouring in the 8′s she noted that the squares could not be odd numbers.

Once they do a few times tables groups, they begin to see numbers that can be made up of a number of different combinations (factors of). We talked about how 6 x 7 and 7 x 6 naturally had the same result.
The 11 year old showed interest in the grid too and wanted to work out which number square would be coloured in more than twice (eg 12 – 1 x 12, 3 x 4, 6 x 2).

You can download the Multiplication Grid by clicking on the above image or here – Planning With Kids Multiplication Grid.
What tools do you use to help the kids learn their times tables?
Tags: numeracy, primary school












6 comments...read them below or add one
This is GREAT! I’m a maths brained person, so this just seems a perfect way to help people ‘see’ the logic of ‘times tables’.
I am printing this now to do with my daughter tonight… This is a great idea and a different way to look at times tables,
I am thrilled with this idea you have shown. We use things from all over the house. I have groups of coloured dominoes that seem to be very popular at the moment. The other things are lentils, small chocolate chips, muffin cases(full and empty) and things from outside like leaves ,stones and flowers.
Thamkyou for this tool Nicole! And thanks Deanna for the other ideas! I will be trying them all.
Cannot even remember how I landed here but I love this post. I’m not a kid anymore but I would use this table for myself! Will share it with parents, sure their kids will use it!
Many thanks for sharing these “tool” with us, our son is at the age of 8 and just started multiplication at school so this gets very interessting.