Teacher guide · Think Lab · Medium · about 32 min
✖️ Times Table Training
Pupils practise problem solving through "Times Table Training": Practise 3s, 4s and 8s with patterns.
Lesson guide
1. Hook · 5 min
Show the ✖️ mission title and read the opening: "6 × 4 = ?". Take three quick guesses.
2. Model · 5 min
Think aloud through the first step together. Use Cog the Owl's line as your prompt: "Good thinking. Show me the why."
3. Do · 10 min
Pairs work through the 5 steps on screen or on the printed sheet. Circulate and ask "why?"
4. Discuss · 10 min
Use two or three of the discussion questions. Ask pairs to share different answers, not just correct ones.
5. Reflect · 5 min
Exit ticket: one sentence on how they used problem solving today.
Discussion questions
- What was the hardest choice in "Times Table Training", and why?
- 6 × 4 = — explain your reasoning to a partner.
- 8 × 7 = — explain your reasoning to a partner.
- Explain a trick for the 9 times table — explain your reasoning to a partner.
- Where could you use problem solving outside school this week?
- If you did this again, what would you change?
Adapting it
Support: Read prompts aloud, pair with a confident partner, and accept spoken or drawn answers for writing steps.
Stretch: Ask pupils to create their own extra step for a partner and explain the correct answer.
Curriculum links
- National Curriculum: Maths: number, calculation, fractions and reasoning (KS1/KS2)
- National Curriculum: Maths: reasoning mathematically and problem solving
- National Curriculum: Computing: logical reasoning and algorithms
- PSHE: Living in the wider world: making decisions and evaluating choices
Pupil sheet
✖️ Times Table Training
Name: ____________________ Date: __________
1. 6 × 4 = ?
☐ 20
☐ 24
☐ 28
2. 8 × 7 = ?
☐ 54
☐ 56
☐ 64
3. Match the facts.
3 × 9 → ________________
4 × 6 → ________________
8 × 3 → ________________
12 × 2 → ________________
4. Order smallest to largest.
___ 3 × 4
___ 4 × 5
___ 6 × 6
___ 8 × 8
5. Explain a trick for the 9 times table.