Multiplication Square: Maths Tools Teachers’ Notes

1. Key Stage One
2. Lower Key Stage Two
3. Upper Key Stage Two

Key Stage One

Task One

What to do

• Ask children to count in twos to 20, horizontally and vertically, highlighting each square on the grid as they go, 2, 4, 6, etc. Elicit they understand that this is the 2 times table and also that these are known as even numbers.
• Ask children to count in fives as far as 50, highlighting each square on the grid as they go, 5, 10, 15, 20 and so on, both horizontally and vertically. This is the 5 times table.
• Ask children to count in tens as far as 100. For example, 10, 20, 30 and so on, again using both horizontal and vertical columns. This is the 10 times table. What do they notice about the end digit each time? Clear the highlighted numbers, naming them aloud each time.
• Play games of ‘All in a Line’. Ask children to complete and highlight the following sequences from the 2 times table. Examples: 2, ?, ?, 8; 8, 10, ?, 14, ?; 20, 18, ?, ?, ?, 10. Go beyond 20 to use larger numbers to reinforce the idea of even numbers. Examples: 30, ?, 34, ?, 38; 52, 50, ?, ?, 44; 76, ?, ?, 82, ?.
• Repeat the game using the 5 times table. Examples: 10, 15, ?, 25, ?; 55, ?, ?, 40, ?.
• Repeat the game using the 10 times table. Examples: 20, 30, ?, ?; 90, ?, 70, ?.