Reach for the Stars - New Times Tables Resources

Our brand-new times tables resources are launching onto the Classroom Secrets website this August, ready in time for the new school year. They will be asking pupils to ‘Reach for the Stars’ and aim high with their times tables recall. 

Why have we created this new resource line? 

As all primary teachers know, times tables are one of the most important fundamental building blocks of the maths curriculum. With quick recall, pupils are halfway to understanding the topics of fractions, percentages and ratio (to name just a few).  

Recognising this, the government made the Year 4 Multiplication Check statutory in 2022. Summer 2024 results showed that 34% of pupils achieved full marks, with an average score of 20.6 out of 25 (lower for children in the SEND and Pupil Premium categories). At Classroom Secrets, we recognise the hard work that teachers are putting into the teaching of times tables every day and wanted to create a resource line to empower them to make their sessions fun, easy-to-plan and engaging. 

We have spent time considering the best way to support children’s recall of the 90 facts (54 if you remove the clear patterns of the 0, 1 and 10 times tables). Our resources help children by: 

• encouraging automatic retrieval  

• encasing learning in a fun, space-themed context that encourages healthy competition and inner challenge 

• focusing on one times table pattern at a time, making it clear to both pupils and teachers the new facts that they are learning 

• including both a supportive task and challenge alongside each resource to ensure access for all pupils working to achieve the primary curriculum  

• taking a cumulative approach to ensure pupils retain previous facts 

• connecting multiplication and division facts to ensure a deep understanding of number patterns 

• allowing teachers to track progress to support quick intervention if necessary 

What resources are included? 

We have created a set of 15 resources which, when completed, will ensure pupils can recall and apply all multiplication facts up to 12 x 12. Each resource asks pupils to reach a new area of space, as they aim towards the stars and ultimately, the Universe. 

1. The Sun – 2 times table 

2. Mercury – 10 times table 

3. Venus – 5 times table 

4. Earth – 3 times table 

5. The Moon – 4 times table 

6. Mars – 8 times table 

7. Jupiter – 6 times table 

8. Saturn – 7 times table 

9. Uranus – 9 times table 

10. Neptune – 11 times table 

11. The stars – 12 times table 

12. Asteroids – Division facts 

13. Comets – Decimal facts 

14. Andromeda – Fraction facts 

15. The Universe – Percentage facts 

Resources 1 – 11 work towards children achieving full marks in the Year 4 Multiplication Check. Resources 12 – 15 help children to retain these number facts whilst preparing for the Year 6 SATs.  

Each resource has three challenges: 

• The main challenge introduces each new times table, whilst recapping previous facts.  

• The Shining Bright challenge covers one times table in a systematic order. 

• The Stellar Performance challenge asks for recall of division facts, whilst also including word problems and a number grid.  

There are no time suggestions on these resources as we understand that there can be different expectations within classrooms. If pupils were to answer in accordance with the Year 4 multiplication check, they would complete the main challenge within four minutes.  

In addition, there is an Astronaut of the Week certificate to reward a pupil who has shown great learning behaviours, and a display pack that allows pupils to conceptualise their progress through space as they achieve each challenge.  

How can schools use these resources? 

There are many ways to use these resources in schools. They can either help to boost an individual class’s recall, or work as a whole-school program that children can work through from Year 1 to Year 6.  

The resources are tagged with suggested year groups and we encourage teachers to ensure a deep understanding of each times table and its division facts before moving onto the next challenge. We also recognise that some pupils will be ready to move through the challenges quickly, whilst others will need more time and support to develop their understanding. 

Pupils could work through the three challenges of each resource before moving onto the next, or the differentiation could be used to provide challenge and support within a class of pupils who are working on the same times table. 

We have designed this resource with flexibility in mind to ensure it is able to fit your school’s needs and we hope you enjoy travelling the universe with us!