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Times Tables Real Life

7 times table in real life: rainbow colours

Use rainbow colours to make the 7 times table concrete, funny and memorable.

Quick answer

The 7 times table in real life can be seen in rainbow colours, where each colour of the rainbow is counted as 1 group of 7, helping you learn 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, 70, 77, 84, 84.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to use rainbow colours to help you remember the 7 times table and understand how 7 groups of different things can be counted quickly. Success signs:
  • You can count 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, 70, 77, 84 using rainbow colours
  • You can say how many items there are when you have 3 groups of 7 rainbow colours
  • You can match the 7 times table to a rainbow picture or drawing
  • You can play a game with 7 times table facts using rainbow colour cards

Why this matters

The 7 times table is useful in many parts of life. When you see a rainbow, you can count the 7 colours. When you're planning a party, you might need to know how many balloons to buy if you want 7 balloons per table. When you're learning about days of the week, you know there are 7 days. Knowing your 7 times table helps you solve problems faster and makes maths more fun.

How it works

To learn the 7 times table using rainbow colours:
  1. First, look at a rainbow and count the 7 colours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.
  2. Then, imagine 1 group of 7 rainbow colours. That’s 7.
  3. Next, imagine 2 groups of 7 rainbow colours. That’s 7 + 7 = 14.
  4. Then, imagine 3 groups of 7 rainbow colours. That’s 7 + 7 + 7 = 21.
  5. Keep going up to 12 groups of 7 rainbow colours.

Examples you can see

Let’s look at some examples using rainbow colours:
  • 1 group of 7 = 7 rainbow colours
  • 2 groups of 7 = 14 rainbow colours
  • 3 groups of 7 = 21 rainbow colours
  • 4 groups of 7 = 28 rainbow colours
  • 5 groups of 7 = 35 rainbow colours
  • 6 groups of 7 = 42 rainbow colours
  • 7 groups of 7 = 49 rainbow colours
  • 8 groups of 7 = 56 rainbow colours
  • 9 groups of 7 = 63 rainbow colours
  • 10 groups of 7 = 70 rainbow colours
  • 11 groups of 7 = 77 rainbow colours
  • 12 groups of 7 = 84 rainbow colours
Here’s how you can draw it: 7 Times Table with Rainbow Colours
Groups Each group has 7 Total
1 7 7
2 7 14
3 7 21
4 7 28
5 7 35
6 7 42
7 7 49
8 7 56
9 7 63
10 7 70
11 7 77
12 7 84

Try it as a mini adventure

Imagine you are a rainbow-colour explorer who finds a magical rainbow that changes colour every time you count! Your mission is to collect the correct number of rainbow items for your magic spell. Adventure steps:
  1. First time: You see 1 rainbow with 7 colours. Count them all: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. That’s 7!
  2. Second time: You see 2 rainbows. Count all the colours: 7 + 7 = 14
  3. Third time: You see 3 rainbows. Count all the colours: 7 + 7 + 7 = 21
  4. Fourth time: You see 4 rainbows. Count all the colours: 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 = 28
  5. Fifth time: You see 5 rainbows. Count all the colours: 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 = 35
  6. Sixth time: You see 6 rainbows. Count all the colours: 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 = 42
  7. Seventh time: You see 7 rainbows. Count all the colours: 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 = 49
  8. Eighth time: You see 8 rainbows. Count all the colours: 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 = 56
  9. Ninth time: You see 9 rainbows. Count all the colours: 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 = 63
  10. Tenth time: You see 10 rainbows. Count all the colours: 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 = 70
  11. Eleventh time: You see 11 rainbows. Count all the colours: 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 = 77
  12. Twelfth time: You see 12 rainbows. Count all the colours: 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 = 84

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Thinking that 7 × 7 = 49, but forgetting that 7 × 7 = 49.
    Why it happens: This is actually correct, so this is not a mistake. But some children might say 7 × 7 = 56 and get confused.
    Fix: Use rainbow colour groups to check: 7 groups of 7 = 49.
  • Mistake: Counting 7 colours in a rainbow as 1 group, but thinking it’s 14.
    Why it happens: Confusing 1 group of 7 with 2 groups of 7.
    Fix: Use a real rainbow or a drawing to show one group clearly.
  • Mistake: Counting 7 × 8 = 54 instead of 56.
    Why it happens: Adding 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 + 7 = 56, but making an error.
    Fix: Use a number line or skip count by 7s: 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56.

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help children learn the 7 times table using rainbow colours in just 5-10 minutes:
  • Draw a rainbow with 7 different colours and ask your child to count them.
  • Use 7-colour crayons or paint to make 2, 3, or 4 rainbows and count together.
  • Play a game where you say a number like “21” and ask, “How many groups of 7 make 21?”
  • Use everyday items like 7-colour pencils or 7-colour stickers to make equal groups.
  • Encourage your child to draw a rainbow and write how many colours there are for each group.

Practice questions

  1. How many rainbow colours are there in 3 groups?
  2. What is 7 × 9?
  3. How many rainbow colours are in 5 groups?
  4. What is 7 × 11?
  5. How many rainbow colours are in 12 groups?
Answers:
  1. 21 rainbow colours
  2. 63
  3. 35 rainbow colours
  4. 77
  5. 84 rainbow colours

FAQ

What is the 7 times table?

The 7 times table is counting by 7s: 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56, 63, 70, 77, 84.

How can I remember the 7 times table?

You can remember it by counting rainbow colours, using skip counting, or making groups of 7 with objects like stickers or crayons.

Why is learning the 7 times table useful?

It helps with everyday problems like counting items, sharing, and solving puzzles. It also helps with bigger maths like fractions and division.

Can I use the 7 times table in games?

Yes! You can use it in games like board games, card games, or even in Minecraft when building with 7-block tall towers.

What if I get confused with 7 × 7?

Remember that 7 × 7 = 49. You can use a rainbow with 7 colours and count 7 times 7 to check.