X Tables
Coding And Maths

Scratch maths: times table quizzes

Use Scratch projects to build a simple quiz that gives feedback and celebrates progress.

Quick answer

You can use Scratch to create a fun times table quiz that asks questions, checks answers, and gives feedback to help you learn your tables.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to build a simple Scratch project that asks times table questions and tells you if your answers are right or wrong. Success signs:
  • You can make a Scratch project with a question and answer system
  • You can see your score change when you get answers right
  • You can make your quiz give feedback like "Well done!" or "Try again"
  • You can add sounds or animations to make your quiz exciting

Why this matters

Learning times tables is important for maths at school and in everyday life. When you know your tables, you can solve problems faster and more easily. Using Scratch to make a quiz helps you practice and remember your tables in a fun way. It also teaches you how to use coding to solve problems, which is a useful skill for the future.

How it works

Creating a times table quiz in Scratch is like building a puzzle. You need to think about how to:
  1. Ask a question (like "What is 4 x 3?")
  2. Check if the answer is right
  3. Give feedback (like "Yes! That's correct!")
  4. Keep track of your score
  5. Make the quiz exciting with sounds or animations

Examples you can see

Let's imagine you are building a quiz for the 5 times table. Here’s how you might do it step by step: Step 1: Ask the question. You can make the sprite say "What is 5 x 6?" on the screen. Step 2: Wait for the answer. You can use a "wait until" block to let the player type in their answer. Step 3: Check if the answer is correct. If the player types in 30, the quiz will say "Well done!" If they type 35, it will say "Try again." Step 4: Add a score. Every time the player gets the answer right, you can add one point to their score. Step 5: Make it fun. You can add sounds, like a cheering sound for correct answers or a buzzer for wrong answers.

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Times Table Treasure Hunt You are a brave explorer who needs to solve times table puzzles to find a hidden treasure. Each correct answer gives you a clue to the treasure's location.
  1. First time: Solve 3 x 4 to get the first clue
  2. Second time: Answer 7 x 8 to find the second clue
  3. Third time: Get 9 x 6 right to unlock the treasure map
  4. Fourth time: Answer 12 x 5 to find the treasure chest
For each correct answer, you get a treasure coin. For wrong answers, you must try again. The treasure is waiting for you when you get all 4 questions right!

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Forgetting to set up the score variable correctly
    Why it happens: The project doesn't know how to keep track of points
    Fix: Make sure you create a variable called "Score" and set it to 0 at the start
  • Mistake: Using the wrong operator for checking answers
    Why it happens: You might use "add" instead of "equals" when comparing answers
    Fix: Use the "equals" block to check if the player's answer matches the correct one
  • Mistake: Not adding feedback messages
    Why it happens: Players don't know if they are right or wrong
    Fix: Add say blocks that tell the player "Correct!" or "Try again!"
  • Mistake: Not resetting the quiz after finishing
    Why it happens: The quiz keeps going with old scores
    Fix: Add a "reset" button or a new game option to start fresh

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help by:
  • Encouraging children to think about how to ask questions and check answers
  • Helping with the coding blocks if needed, but letting the child try first
  • Playing the quiz together to make it more fun
  • Checking that the project works by testing different answers
  • Helping children add fun features like sounds or animations
Remember, the goal is to make learning fun and to help your child understand how coding can be used to learn maths. Don't worry if the project doesn't work perfectly at first – it's part of the learning process!

Practice questions

  1. What is 6 x 7? Answer: 42
  2. What is 9 x 8? Answer: 72
  3. What is 4 x 11? Answer: 44
  4. What is 12 x 3? Answer: 36
  5. What is 0 x 5? Answer: 0

FAQ

What is Scratch?

Scratch is a free online coding program where you can make games, stories, and animations by connecting blocks of code together.

Can I use Scratch to learn my times tables?

Yes! You can make a quiz in Scratch that helps you practice and learn your tables in a fun way.

Do I need to know how to code to make a times table quiz?

No, you can start with simple blocks and gradually learn more. Scratch is designed to be easy for beginners.

How can I make my quiz more exciting?

You can add sounds, animations, different sprites, and even a timer to make your quiz more fun and challenging.

What times tables can I use in my quiz?

You can make quizzes for any times table from 0 to 12. Start with your easier tables and then try harder ones.

Times table facts: 5 times table

5 x 0 5 x 1 5 x 2 5 x 3 5 x 4 5 x 5 5 x 6 5 x 7 5 x 8 5 x 9 5 x 10 5 x 11 5 x 12
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60