Games that secretly teach times tables

Quick answer

Many games secretly teach times tables through arrays, repeated actions, scoring, and multipliers – helping children learn multiplication without even realising it!

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will understand how games like football, board games, and building games help you learn times tables, and you'll be able to spot multiplication in play.

• You can count equal groups in games.
• You can see how repeated actions help with multiplication.
• You can spot multiplication in real-world games.
• You can play games that help you learn your times tables.

Why this matters

Learning multiplication through games makes maths fun and easy to remember. When you play games, you're already doing maths without even realising it. Games help you see how groups of things work together, which is exactly what multiplication is about. Whether you're playing with friends, building with LEGO, or watching a football match, you're using multiplication in your head!

How it works

Games teach multiplication in a few simple ways:

1. Arrays: Games often show things in rows and columns, like a pizza with 4 slices in each row.
2. Repeated actions: If you do something 3 times, like jumping, that's 3 groups of 1.
3. Scoring: If you get 5 points each time, you can count how many times you scored to find the total.
4. Multipliers: When you multiply by 2, 3, or 4, you're using the same idea as in games.

Examples you can see

Here are some real-world examples of multiplication in games:

Football

Imagine you're playing football and each goal is worth 2 points. If you score 5 goals, how many points do you have?

• 5 goals × 2 points = 10 points

You're using multiplication without even realising it!

Board Games

When you play a board game, you might move 3 spaces each turn. If you take 4 turns, how many spaces do you move?

• 4 turns × 3 spaces = 12 spaces

That's 4 groups of 3, or 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12.

LEGO Building

If you build a wall with 6 rows of 4 LEGO bricks, how many bricks do you use?

• 6 rows × 4 bricks = 24 bricks

That's an array – a rectangle made of equal rows and columns.

Video Games

In Minecraft, you might collect 8 diamonds each time you mine a block. If you mine 3 blocks, how many diamonds do you get?

• 3 blocks × 8 diamonds = 24 diamonds

That's 3 groups of 8, or 8 + 8 + 8 = 24.

Board Game Cards

Some card games give you 2 cards each round. If you play 6 rounds, how many cards do you get?

• 6 rounds × 2 cards = 12 cards

That's 6 groups of 2, or 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 12.

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Treasure Hunt Game

You are on a treasure hunt. You find 5 treasure chests, and each chest has 3 gold coins inside. How many coins do you have?

• 1st chest: 3 coins
• 2nd chest: 3 coins
• 3rd chest: 3 coins
• 4th chest: 3 coins
• 5th chest: 3 coins

How many coins do you have in total?

Answer: 5 × 3 = 15 coins

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Thinking that 4 × 3 means 4 + 3 = 7.
• Why it happens: Confusing addition with multiplication.
• Fix: Remember that multiplication means groups of things. 4 × 3 means 4 groups of 3, which is 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12.

• Mistake: Counting the rows and columns in an array wrong.
• Why it happens: Getting confused between rows and columns.
• Fix: Count the rows first, then count how many items are in each row. Multiply them together.

• Mistake: Forgetting that 0 × anything = 0.
• Why it happens: Not understanding that zero groups of anything is nothing.
• Fix: Think of it like: if you have 0 bags of 5 apples, you have 0 apples.

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help your child by:

1. Playing games together and asking questions like, "How many times did you do that?"
2. Pointing out arrays in the real world – like a box of eggs with 6 rows and 4 columns.
3. Encouraging your child to count groups of things in games, like points, cards, or items.
4. Using everyday examples like sharing snacks or counting steps to show multiplication.
5. Not worrying if your child doesn't know all the times tables yet – games help build understanding naturally.

Practice questions

1. If you collect 4 stars each time you play a game and you play 5 times, how many stars do you collect?
2. How many wheels are there on 6 toy cars if each car has 4 wheels?
3. You are building a fence with 5 rows of 6 bricks. How many bricks do you use?
4. In a game, you get 3 points for each level you complete. If you complete 7 levels, how many points do you score?
5. You have 8 bags of marbles. Each bag has 3 marbles. How many marbles do you have?

Answers:

1. 5 × 4 = 20 stars
2. 6 × 4 = 24 wheels
3. 5 × 6 = 30 bricks
4. 7 × 3 = 21 points
5. 8 × 3 = 24 marbles

FAQ

How do games teach multiplication?

Games often use equal groups, arrays, and repeated actions. For example, if you collect 3 coins each round and play 4 rounds, you're doing 3 × 4 = 12.

Can I learn times tables just by playing games?

Yes! Games help you understand the idea of multiplication through fun, repeated practice. You'll start to remember the facts naturally.

Are all games good for learning multiplication?

Not all games teach multiplication, but many games like board games, card games, and building games do. Look for games with repeated actions or equal groups.

How can I make my child more aware of multiplication in games?

Ask questions like, "How many groups are there?" or "How many items are in each group?" This helps your child notice multiplication in play.

What if my child doesn't like games?

You can still use multiplication in everyday life! Counting steps, sharing snacks, or even singing multiplication songs can help your child learn without games.