X Tables
Screen Time Maths

Reward Charts maths mission

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

Quick answer

Reward charts maths mission helps you practice multiplication by tracking your daily activities and rewards, making maths fun and meaningful instead of boring worksheets.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to use reward charts to solve multiplication problems and understand how multiplication helps you track your progress and rewards in daily life. Success signs:
  • You can make your own reward chart with multiplication problems
  • You can solve multiplication problems by counting groups
  • You can explain how multiplication helps you track your daily goals
  • You can use your reward chart to plan rewards for yourself

Why this matters

Reward charts are a great way to practice multiplication because they show you how many times you've done something, and help you count in groups. When you're learning multiplication, you're not just memorizing numbers - you're learning how to count things quickly and see patterns. This helps you in school, when you're solving problems, and in real life when you're planning how many cookies to share or how many stickers you can collect.

How it works

A reward chart helps you track how many times you do something each day. If you do your homework 3 times a day, and you want to know how many times you did it in a week, you can multiply 3 by 7. You can also use it to plan rewards. For example, if you get 2 stickers for each day you finish your chores, and you want to know how many stickers you'll have after 5 days, you multiply 2 by 5.

Examples you can see

Let's imagine you're making a reward chart for your screen time. You decide to earn 3 points every time you use your tablet for 10 minutes. You want to know how many points you'll earn after 4 days of using your tablet. Method 1: Counting groups You have 4 days and 3 points each day. You can draw 4 groups with 3 points in each group.
  • Day 1: Points 1, 2, 3
  • Day 2: Points 1, 2, 3
  • Day 3: Points 1, 2, 3
  • Day 4: Points 1, 2, 3
Total points = 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12 points Method 2: Multiplication You can write this as 4 groups of 3 points each. 4 × 3 = 12 points Method 3: Skip counting You count by 3s: 3, 6, 9, 12. That's 4 groups of 3.

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Screen Time Mission You're on a mission to earn points for good screen habits! Your goal is to earn 50 points by the end of the week. You earn points by:
  • Using your tablet for 10 minutes (2 points)
  • Playing educational games (3 points)
  • Reading online (1 point)
Each day, you plan how many of each activity you'll do. Here's your plan for one day:
  • 3 times using tablet for 10 minutes
  • 2 times playing educational games
  • 1 time reading online
Step 1: Calculate points for each activity
  • Tablet time: 3 × 2 = 6 points
  • Educational games: 2 × 3 = 6 points
  • Reading online: 1 × 1 = 1 point
Step 2: Total points for one day 6 + 6 + 1 = 13 points Step 3: Points for 5 days of this plan 13 × 5 = 65 points Step 4: You've earned more than your goal! You've earned 65 points, which is more than 50 points.

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Adding instead of multiplying Why it happens: You might think that 4 days of 3 points each is 4 + 3 = 7 points. Fix: Remember that 4 days of 3 points each means 4 groups of 3 points. That's 4 × 3 = 12 points.
  • Mistake: Mixing up the order of multiplication Why it happens: You might think 3 × 4 = 12 and 4 × 3 = 12, but you're not sure which is which. Fix: Remember that 3 × 4 means 3 groups of 4, and 4 × 3 means 4 groups of 3. They're the same answer, but you can think of it as 3 groups of 4.
  • Mistake: Forgetting to count all the days Why it happens: You might only count 3 days instead of 5. Fix: Use your reward chart to count the days and make sure you include all of them.

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help by:
  • Creating a reward chart together with their child
  • Using real-life examples like stickers, points, or small treats
  • Encouraging the child to explain how they solved a multiplication problem
  • Letting the child design their own reward chart
  • Helping to track progress and celebrate achievements
What to say:
  • "How many points did you earn today?"
  • "Can you show me how you counted your points?"
  • "What would happen if you did this activity 3 times a day for 4 days?"
What not to worry about:
  • It's okay if your child makes mistakes - they're learning!
  • Don't worry if they don't know all the times tables yet
  • Focus on the process, not just the answer

Practice questions

  1. You earn 2 points for every 10 minutes you use your tablet. How many points do you earn in 5 days if you use your tablet 3 times each day?
    • Answer: 3 × 2 × 5 = 30 points
  2. You get 4 stickers for completing your reading time. How many stickers do you get if you read for 7 days?
    • Answer: 4 × 7 = 28 stickers
  3. You earn 1 point for every 5 minutes of homework. How many points do you earn if you do homework for 6 days, 5 times each day?
    • Answer: 5 × 1 × 6 = 30 points
  4. You get 3 points for each day you finish your chores. How many points do you get in 4 weeks?
    • Answer: 3 × 7 × 4 = 84 points
  5. You earn 5 points for every 15 minutes you play a math game. How many points do you earn if you play for 3 days, 2 times each day?
    • Answer: 2 × 5 × 3 = 30 points

FAQ

What is a reward chart?

A reward chart is a tool you use to track your progress and rewards for completing tasks or good habits. You can use it to count how many times you've done something and earn points or stickers.

How can I use multiplication with my reward chart?

You can use multiplication to quickly count how many times you've done something over several days. For example, if you do 3 activities each day for 5 days, you can multiply 3 × 5 to find the total number of activities.

What are some good activities to track on a reward chart?

You can track activities like reading, doing chores, completing homework, using your tablet wisely, or practicing math skills. Any activity you want to build a habit for can be tracked!

How can I make my reward chart more fun?

You can make your chart colorful, add stickers, draw pictures, or even use a chart app on your tablet. You can also plan rewards for yourself when you reach your goals.

Can I use reward charts for anything other than screen time?

Yes! Reward charts are great for tracking any habit or goal. You can use them to track reading time, exercise, completing chores, or even saving money.