Using Times Tables - Lesson 5: The Grid Method

With lesson plans, slides, activity ideas, differentiated worksheets, games, and much more, these Year 3, KS2 Maths 'Using Times Tables' lessons provide all you need to get their times tables up to speed!

The first lesson in this series starts by asking your class to count in multiples of eight, using a hundred square on the slides to support them. They will then find out what the word ‘multiple’ means and identify the multiples of eight before exploring the link between multiples of four and multiples of eight. The independent learning activities are packed full of fun activities and games that will help them become more familiar with the eight times table. There is also a matching game for the other times tables too!

Now that your class understand what a multiple is, they will start to think about different numbers that can be multiplied together to produce a particular multiple. They will learn how to create many different multiplication statement using factor pairs, reinforcing their understanding of the three, four and eight times tables. There is also the opportunity to undertake some 'sometimes, always or never' investigations into multiples of three, four and eight.

This lesson recaps the relationship between multiplication and division, and teaches your children to identify two different division facts from a given multiplication fact. They can then practise their recall of both multiplication and division facts through a fun ‘snakes and ladders’ game, or racing their partner to a finishing line by completing division facts as quickly as they can!

The focus of this lesson is on the rapid recall of multiplication facts for known times tables. There are games and activities that will give children plenty of opportunities to practise their times tables in a fun and engaging way, as well as using times tables to derive associated facts. Throughout the lesson, they will be able to identify those times tables they are confident with, as well as those that may need a little more attention.

The final lesson of this series recaps how the grid method works to solve multiplication problems. Starting with two-digit by two-digit calculations, they will then move on to three-digit by two-digit calculations once they’ve got the hang of it. The independent learning activities give them the chance to practise this, and there are some challenging investigations to undertake too!