X Tables
Times Tables Real Life

Fingers And Toes 10 times table adventure

A story-led page turning fingers and toes into a junior adventure for practising the 10 times table.

Quick answer

You can use your fingers and toes to help you learn the 10 times table – and it’s a fun way to count by 10s!

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to count in 10s using your fingers and toes, and you will know your 10 times table from 0 to 12. Success signs:
  • You can count up to 120 in 10s using your fingers and toes
  • You can say the 10 times table from 0 x 10 to 12 x 10
  • You can solve simple 10 times table problems
  • You can use your fingers and toes to show how 10 x 5 works

Why this matters

Learning the 10 times table helps you count quickly, solve maths problems, and understand how numbers work. When you know your 10 times table, you’ll be better at:
  • Adding large numbers
  • Working out how much money you have
  • Understanding how many groups of 10 there are
  • Using multiplication in games and puzzles
And using your fingers and toes makes it more fun and easier to remember!

How it works

Let’s start by thinking about how many fingers and toes you have. You have 10 fingers and 10 toes, so that’s 20 in total. If you think of each finger or toe as a group of 10, you can count by 10s easily. Here’s how it works:
  1. One group of 10 = 10
  2. Two groups of 10 = 20
  3. Three groups of 10 = 30
  4. And so on…
You can use your fingers and toes to show each group. For example, if you put up one hand, that’s 10. If you put up two hands, that’s 20. You can even count by 10s using your toes!

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine a fun story to help you learn the 10 times table. You are a space explorer, and every time you find a new planet, you collect 10 space rocks. Let’s see how many rocks you collect on different planets.
Number of Planets Space Rocks Collected
0 planets 0 x 10 = 0 rocks
1 planet 1 x 10 = 10 rocks
2 planets 2 x 10 = 20 rocks
3 planets 3 x 10 = 30 rocks
4 planets 4 x 10 = 40 rocks
5 planets 5 x 10 = 50 rocks
6 planets 6 x 10 = 60 rocks
7 planets 7 x 10 = 70 rocks
8 planets 8 x 10 = 80 rocks
9 planets 9 x 10 = 90 rocks
10 planets 10 x 10 = 100 rocks
11 planets 11 x 10 = 110 rocks
12 planets 12 x 10 = 120 rocks
You can count by 10s with your fingers and toes to help you remember this table. Try it now!

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Space Rock Collection You are a space explorer on a mission to collect space rocks from different planets. Each planet gives you 10 rocks. Here’s your mission:
  1. First time: 1 planet = 1 x 10 = 10 rocks
  2. Second time: 2 planets = 2 x 10 = 20 rocks
  3. Third time: 3 planets = 3 x 10 = 30 rocks
  4. Fourth time: 4 planets = 4 x 10 = 40 rocks
  5. Fifth time: 5 planets = 5 x 10 = 50 rocks
  6. Sixth time: 6 planets = 6 x 10 = 60 rocks
  7. Seventh time: 7 planets = 7 x 10 = 70 rocks
  8. Eighth time: 8 planets = 8 x 10 = 80 rocks
  9. Ninth time: 9 planets = 9 x 10 = 90 rocks
  10. Tenth time: 10 planets = 10 x 10 = 100 rocks
  11. Eleventh time: 11 planets = 11 x 10 = 110 rocks
  12. Twelfth time: 12 planets = 12 x 10 = 120 rocks
Can you count to 120 by 10s using your fingers and toes? Try it now!

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Thinking 10 x 10 = 100, but confusing it with 10 + 10 = 20
    Why it happens: Mixing up multiplication and addition
    Fix: Remember that 10 x 10 means 10 groups of 10, which is 100
  • Mistake: Counting by 1s instead of 10s
    Why it happens: Not yet used to the pattern of 10s
    Fix: Use your fingers and toes to help you count by 10s
  • Mistake: Forgetting that 0 x 10 = 0
    Why it happens: Thinking that anything times 0 is 1
    Fix: Remember that zero groups of anything is zero

Parent and carer guide

Help your child learn the 10 times table by:
  • Counting together by 10s using fingers and toes
  • Using real objects like toys or snacks to show groups of 10
  • Playing a game where they count how many 10s they can make with their fingers
  • Encouraging them to say the table out loud and write it down
  • Using a chart or poster to help them remember
What to say:
  • “Let’s count how many fingers we have. That’s 10 fingers!”
  • “If you have 3 groups of 10, how many do you have?”
  • “You can use your toes too – that’s 20 toes in total!”
What not to worry about:
  • They may make mistakes – that’s part of learning!
  • They might not know all the answers right away – that’s okay!
  • They might count slowly – they’re still learning!

Practice questions

  1. What is 1 x 10?
  2. What is 5 x 10?
  3. What is 8 x 10?
  4. What is 11 x 10?
  5. What is 12 x 10?
Answers:
  1. 1 x 10 = 10
  2. 5 x 10 = 50
  3. 8 x 10 = 80
  4. 11 x 10 = 110
  5. 12 x 10 = 120

FAQ

How can I use my fingers and toes to learn the 10 times table?

You can use your fingers and toes to show how many groups of 10 you have. For example, if you hold up one hand, that’s 10. If you hold up two hands, that’s 20.

Why is the 10 times table so easy to learn?

Because when you multiply by 10, you just add a zero to the number. For example, 6 x 10 = 60. It’s a simple pattern!

Can I use this method for other times tables?

Yes! You can use your fingers and toes to help with any times table, but it’s especially helpful for 10s because 10 is a nice, round number.

What if I forget a 10 times table fact?

You can always count by 10s using your fingers and toes. Or, you can think of it as adding 10 each time. For example, 7 x 10 is 70.

Is it okay to count slowly when learning?

Yes! It’s normal to count slowly when learning something new. With practice, you’ll get faster and more confident.