X Tables
Times Tables Real Life

6 times table in real life: insect legs

Use insect legs to make the 6 times table concrete, funny and memorable.

Quick answer

The 6 times table in real life can be seen in insect legs. Insects have 6 legs, so 1 insect has 6 legs, 2 insects have 12 legs, 3 insects have 18 legs, and so on. This helps you learn your 6 times table by counting in 6s.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will know the 6 times table from 0 to 12 and understand how insects help you learn it. Success signs:
  • You can count in 6s from 0 to 72
  • You can multiply 6 by any number from 0 to 12
  • You can see how insects have 6 legs and use that to remember the table
  • You can solve problems using the 6 times table

Why this matters

Learning the 6 times table helps you do bigger maths problems quickly. It's useful when you're sharing things, counting groups, or solving puzzles. Insects are all around us, so thinking about them helps you remember your table better. When you know your 6 times table, you can solve problems faster and feel more confident in maths.

How it works

The 6 times table works by adding 6 each time.
  • 1 × 6 = 6
  • 2 × 6 = 6 + 6 = 12
  • 3 × 6 = 6 + 6 + 6 = 18
  • 4 × 6 = 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 24
  • 5 × 6 = 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 30
  • 6 × 6 = 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 36
  • 7 × 6 = 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 42
  • 8 × 6 = 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 48
  • 9 × 6 = 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 54
  • 10 × 6 = 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 60
  • 11 × 6 = 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 66
  • 12 × 6 = 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 72

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine you’re looking at insects in the garden.
Insects Legs per insect Total legs
1 insect 6 legs 1 × 6 = 6 legs
2 insects 6 legs 2 × 6 = 12 legs
3 insects 6 legs 3 × 6 = 18 legs
4 insects 6 legs 4 × 6 = 24 legs
5 insects 6 legs 5 × 6 = 30 legs
6 insects 6 legs 6 × 6 = 36 legs
7 insects 6 legs 7 × 6 = 42 legs
8 insects 6 legs 8 × 6 = 48 legs
9 insects 6 legs 9 × 6 = 54 legs
10 insects 6 legs 10 × 6 = 60 legs
11 insects 6 legs 11 × 6 = 66 legs
12 insects 6 legs 12 × 6 = 72 legs
Now let’s look at some insects you might see:
  • Beetles have 6 legs
  • Ants have 6 legs
  • Butterflies have 6 legs
  • Dragonflies have 6 legs
  • Fly have 6 legs
You can count all the legs by grouping them. For example, if you see 3 beetles, that's 3 groups of 6 legs, which is 18 legs in total.

Try it as a mini adventure

Imagine you are a bug detective! You go on a mission to count the legs of insects in your garden or playground. Your mission:
  • Find 1 insect and count its legs (1 × 6 = 6 legs)
  • Find 2 insects and count their legs (2 × 6 = 12 legs)
  • Find 3 insects and count their legs (3 × 6 = 18 legs)
  • Find 4 insects and count their legs (4 × 6 = 24 legs)
  • Find 5 insects and count their legs (5 × 6 = 30 legs)
  • Find 6 insects and count their legs (6 × 6 = 36 legs)
  • Find 7 insects and count their legs (7 × 6 = 42 legs)
  • Find 8 insects and count their legs (8 × 6 = 48 legs)
  • Find 9 insects and count their legs (9 × 6 = 54 legs)
  • Find 10 insects and count their legs (10 × 6 = 60 legs)
  • Find 11 insects and count their legs (11 × 6 = 66 legs)
  • Find 12 insects and count their legs (12 × 6 = 72 legs)
After your mission, you can draw a picture of each insect and write how many legs it has. You can also make a chart to show your results.

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Thinking 6 × 6 = 36, but forgetting that 6 × 6 = 36.
    Why it happens: This is actually correct, so this is not a mistake. But it's a common point of confusion when learning.
    Fix: Remember that 6 × 6 = 36. You can check by adding 6 six times or by using a times table chart.
  • Mistake: Counting in 5s instead of 6s.
    Why it happens: It's easy to mix up the counting sequence.
    Fix: Practice counting in 6s: 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60, 66, 72.
  • Mistake: Thinking that 12 × 6 = 72, but getting confused with 11 × 6 = 66.
    Why it happens: The numbers are close, so it's easy to mix them up.
    Fix: Use a chart or draw 12 groups of 6 to see the pattern.

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help by:
  • Playing the counting game with your child: Count in 6s together. Say the numbers out loud or write them down.
  • Using insects from nature or toys to act out the table. For example, pretend 3 toy beetles have 18 legs.
  • Using real-life examples like 3 spiders with 6 legs each (18 legs total) or 5 butterflies with 6 legs each (30 legs total).
  • Practising the table with flashcards or online games.
  • Encouraging your child to draw pictures of insects and count the legs.

Practice questions

  1. How many legs do 4 ants have? Answer: 24 legs
  2. How many legs do 7 butterflies have? Answer: 42 legs
  3. How many legs do 10 dragonflies have? Answer: 60 legs
  4. How many legs do 12 beetles have? Answer: 72 legs
  5. How many legs do 5 flies have? Answer: 30 legs

FAQ

How many legs does an insect have?

All insects have 6 legs. This is one of the main things that makes them insects.

Why are insects good for learning the 6 times table?

Insects are easy to see and count. They have 6 legs each, so it's simple to make groups of 6 and multiply.

Can I use this to learn other times tables?

Yes! Once you learn 6 × 6 = 36, you can use that to help with 6 × 7 = 42 or 6 × 8 = 48.

Are all insects the same size?

No, insects come in many sizes. But all insects have 6 legs, no matter how big or small they are.

Can I use this to count other things too?

Yes! You can use the 6 times table to count anything that comes in groups of 6, like eggs, pencils, or even your fingers!