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Journey To School Maths

Steps To School maths mission

A junior real-world challenge using steps to school to practise multiplication without feeling like a worksheet.

Quick answer

By counting your steps to school and multiplying them by the number of days you go, you can practice multiplication in a fun, real-world way.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to multiply the number of steps you take to school by the number of school days in a week to find how many steps you take in total. Success signs:
  • You can count your steps to school and write it as a number.
  • You can multiply that number by 5 (or however many days you go to school).
  • You can use your multiplication to figure out how many steps you take in a week.
  • You can explain how this helps you learn multiplication!

Why this matters

Multiplication helps you work out how many things you have when you have equal groups. When you walk to school, you take the same number of steps each day. If you walk 200 steps every day, you can multiply 200 by 5 to find out how many steps you take in one week. This is useful for counting things you do every day, like jumping, clapping, or eating breakfast. It also helps you plan how far you walk, or how much time it takes. This makes maths feel useful, not just a worksheet to do.

How it works

To use your journey to school to practice multiplication:
  1. Count how many steps you take to get to school.
  2. Decide how many days you go to school in a week (usually 5 days).
  3. Multiply the number of steps by the number of school days.
  4. Write down your answer – that’s how many steps you take in a week!

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine you take 150 steps to get to school. If you go to school 5 days a week, you can work out how many steps you take in a week like this:
  • 150 steps × 5 days = 750 steps
Here’s another example: If you take 120 steps to school, and you go 5 days a week:
  • 120 steps × 5 days = 600 steps
You can also use a drawing to help you. Try drawing 5 groups of steps. Each group has the same number of steps, like this:
  • Group 1: 100 steps
  • Group 2: 100 steps
  • Group 3: 100 steps
  • Group 4: 100 steps
  • Group 5: 100 steps
If you count them all, you get 500 steps. That’s the same as 100 × 5 = 500.

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Steps To School Mission You are a detective who needs to find out how many steps you take to school each week. Here’s your mission:
  • First time: Count how many steps you take to get to school.
  • Second time: Write down that number.
  • Third time: Multiply that number by 5 (or however many days you go to school).
  • Fourth time: Draw a picture of your steps or write a sentence about how many steps you take in a week.
  • Fifth time: See if you can find a pattern. If you take 100 steps, how many do you take in 2 weeks?
You can even do this with a friend or family member. Compare how many steps each person takes to school. Then, multiply to see who walks the most steps in a week.

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Thinking that 100 × 5 = 105
    Why it happens: Mixing up multiplication with addition.
    Fix: Remember that multiplication means repeated addition. So 100 × 5 means 100 + 100 + 100 + 100 + 100 = 500.
  • Mistake: Forgetting to write down the number of school days.
    Why it happens: Getting excited about counting steps and forgetting the next step.
    Fix: Write down the number of days you go to school before multiplying.
  • Mistake: Using a calculator or counting on fingers instead of learning the multiplication facts.
    Why it happens: Not feeling confident with the facts yet.
    Fix: Practice the multiplication tables a little each day until you know them by heart.

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help by:
  • Encouraging their child to count their steps to school every day.
  • Helping them write down the number of steps and the number of school days.
  • Asking questions like: “How many steps do you take in 2 days?” or “If you walk 100 steps each day, how many do you walk in a week?”
  • Using a chart or table to help them keep track of their steps over the week.
  • Practising multiplication with real-life examples like this one, instead of just worksheets.
This activity helps children see that maths is part of their everyday life, not just something they do in class. It also builds confidence in multiplication, which is a key skill for later maths.

Practice questions

  1. If you take 100 steps to school and go 5 days a week, how many steps do you take in a week?
  2. If you take 150 steps to school and go 5 days a week, how many steps do you take in a week?
  3. If you take 200 steps to school and go 5 days a week, how many steps do you take in a week?
  4. If you take 80 steps to school and go 5 days a week, how many steps do you take in a week?
  5. If you take 120 steps to school and go 5 days a week, how many steps do you take in a week?
Answers:
  1. 100 × 5 = 500 steps
  2. 150 × 5 = 750 steps
  3. 200 × 5 = 1000 steps
  4. 80 × 5 = 400 steps
  5. 120 × 5 = 600 steps

FAQ

How many steps should I take to school?

The number of steps depends on how far your school is. Some children take 50 steps, others take 200. It's all about how long your journey is!

Can I use this to learn multiplication tables?

Yes! This is a fun way to learn multiplication. You can use your steps to practice multiplying by 5, 10, or even 12 if you go to school that many days!

What if I don’t walk to school?

No problem! You can still do this with any journey. Try counting steps in the bus, or steps in your house, or steps when you play in the garden.

Can I do this for more than one week?

Absolutely! You can track your steps for 2 weeks, 3 weeks, or even a month. This helps you see patterns and get better at multiplying.

Is this just for school?

No! This is a real-life way to use maths. You can use this same idea when you’re shopping, cooking, or playing games. It shows that maths is all around you!