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Times table colour-by-number pages

Times Table Methods

Times table colour-by-number pages

Use colouring puzzles to practise facts while revealing patterns.

Quick answer

Times table colour-by-number pages help you learn your multiplication facts by solving problems and then colouring in the answers to reveal a picture. It's a fun way to practice maths and see patterns in numbers!

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will understand how to use multiplication facts to solve colour-by-number puzzles, and you will be able to find the right answers to colour in your picture. Success signs:

You can solve simple multiplication problems.
You can match your answers to the right spaces in the puzzle.
You can see patterns in the times tables as you colour.
You can explain how the puzzles help you learn multiplication.

Why this matters

Colour-by-number puzzles are more than just fun art. They help you remember multiplication facts by connecting numbers to pictures. This makes learning times tables easier and more enjoyable. When you do these puzzles, you’re not just colouring – you’re building your maths skills and memory. You’ll use these skills when you:

Share out sweets equally with friends
Work out how many items are in rows and columns
Plan a party with enough snacks for everyone
Play board games that involve counting or scoring

How it works

Colour-by-number puzzles work like this:

You get a grid with numbers and spaces to colour.
You solve multiplication problems to find the answers.
You look at the key to see which number matches which colour.
You colour in the right spaces with the right colour.
When you finish, a picture appears!

Let’s look at how this works step-by-step. First, imagine you have a puzzle where you need to multiply by 3. Each problem gives you a number to colour. If the problem is 4 × 3, you work out that 4 × 3 = 12. Then you look at the key and find the colour for 12. You colour in all the spaces that have the number 12. Next, you do this for every problem. As you go, you start to notice that some numbers appear again and again – like 12, which comes from 3 × 4, 4 × 3, 2 × 6, and 6 × 2. This helps you remember your times tables better!

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine you're solving a puzzle where you multiply by 5. Example puzzle: Multiplication by 5

Problem	Answer	Colour	Space to colour
5 × 1	5	Red	Space 5
5 × 2	10	Blue	Space 10
5 × 3	15	Green	Space 15
5 × 4	20	Yellow	Space 20
5 × 5	25	Purple	Space 25

Now, imagine you are colouring in your picture. You find space 5 and colour it red. You find space 10 and colour it blue. You keep going and soon, a picture of a star appears! Let’s try a more complex example using the 6 times table: Example puzzle: Multiplication by 6

Problem	Answer	Colour	Space to colour
6 × 1	6	Orange	Space 6
6 × 2	12	Pink	Space 12
6 × 3	18	Brown	Space 18
6 × 4	24	Grey	Space 24
6 × 5	30	Black	Space 30

As you solve each problem, you are building your memory of the 6 times table. You can even write down the answers to help you remember!

Try it as a mini adventure

Let’s go on a mini adventure to help you understand how these puzzles work. Adventure: The Magic Garden You are a gardener in a magical garden. Every morning, you plant 5 flowers in each row. You have 6 rows. How many flowers do you plant in total? You can solve this by multiplying: 5 × 6 = 30. Now, imagine you have a puzzle where each flower is numbered. You need to solve 5 × 6 to find out which flower to colour. You find space 30 and colour it purple. You continue planting and solving puzzles. Each time you solve a multiplication, you plant a new flower. After solving 6 × 6 = 36, you plant a flower in space 36 and colour it green. Soon, your garden is full of beautiful, colour-coded flowers. You’ve learned your times tables and created a garden!

Common mistakes

Mistake: Solving the problem wrong and colouring the wrong space.
Why it happens: You might forget that 6 × 7 = 42 or make a silly mistake.
Fix: Double-check your multiplication or use your fingers or a number line to help.
Mistake: Not reading the key carefully.
Why it happens: You might see 12 and think it’s blue, but it’s actually green.
Fix: Always look at the key and match the number to the right colour.
Mistake: Not finishing the puzzle.
Why it happens: You might get bored or think it’s too hard.
Fix: Take your time, and remember that each problem helps you learn.

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help by:

Encouraging the child to solve each problem carefully before colouring.
Checking that the child is matching the answers to the correct spaces.
Using the puzzles to talk about patterns in multiplication (e.g., 6 × 2 = 12 and 2 × 6 = 12).
Letting the child choose which puzzle to do next to keep them interested.
Practising multiplication facts in other ways, like singing times tables songs or playing games.

Here are some things to watch for:

If your child gets frustrated, take a break and come back later.
Don’t rush the child to finish. Enjoy the process of learning.
Help them notice patterns in the numbers as they colour.

Practice questions

What is 7 × 3?
Solve 8 × 4.
What number do you get when you multiply 9 by 2?
Find the answer to 5 × 5.
What is 10 × 6?

Answers:

FAQ

What is a colour-by-number puzzle?

A colour-by-number puzzle is a picture where you solve maths problems to find the right numbers to colour. When you finish, a picture appears!

Why do colour-by-number puzzles help with multiplication?

They help because you solve the same multiplication problems many times. This makes it easier to remember the answers and understand how multiplication works.

Can I make my own colour-by-number puzzle?

Yes! You can draw a grid, write multiplication problems in each square, and give yourself a key to match numbers to colours. It’s a fun way to learn!

Which times table should I start with?

Start with the 2s, 5s, and 10s tables, as these are easier to learn. Then try 3s, 4s, and 6s. You can always come back to harder ones later.

How can I make colour-by-number puzzles more fun?

Try making your own puzzles, using different colours, or doing puzzles with friends. You can even make a puzzle for someone else to solve!