Times Tables Challenges
What are we doing and why?
In Key Stage 2 children will be taking part in a times tables challenge that will continue throughout the school
year where each child will need to know multiplication and division facts to complete timed questions. The
school are implementing this new challenge due to the number of children that are increasingly getting to the
end of Key Stage 2 without good recall of these crucial facts. Knowing times tables will support all other areas
of maths and secondary schools expect children to recall number facts quickly.
How will it work?
Every couple of weeks a small part of the maths lesson will be used to administer the sets of questions that all
children will have to answer. All children will start with the ‘Silver Star Challenge - Level 1’ if they get 100% of
the questions correct within the time limit of 5 minutes then they will receive their Silver Star Level 1
certificate and then complete the ‘Silver Star Level 2 Challenge’. This then continues up to the ‘Silver Star Level
9 challenge’ before then completing the Gold Star challenges. Attached is a sample copy of the ‘1 Star Silver
Challenge’.
Once a challenge has been completed it will be marked in school as soon as possible so that the children will
know how they got on and then will be returned to the child. This can then support practice at home before
the next challenge (unless they are moving on to the next challenge). Certificates and stars will also be handed
out after this.
The children will be introduced to the challenges this week (week beginning 27.1.14) and they will then
complete the first challenge before the end of the week.
When deciding on how much time to give the children to complete the challenges we wanted to make sure
that we allowed enough time to recall the fact, write the answer, complete all questions and include time for
checking answers too.
The Silver Star Challenges will focus on;
Multiplication
Silver Star Challenge - Level 1 – x2 x5 x10
Silver Star Challenge - Level 2 – x3 x4
Silver Star Challenge - Level 3 – x2 x 3 x 4 x 5 x 10
Silver Star Challenge - Level 4 - x6 x7 x8
Silver Star Challenge - Level 5– x9 x 11 x 12
Silver Star Challenge - Level 6 – x 6 x 7 x 8 x9 x 11 x 12
Division
Silver Star Challenge - Level 7 – ÷ 1 ÷2 ÷3 ÷ 4 ÷5 ÷10
Silver Star Challenge - Level 8 - ÷6 ÷ 7 ÷8 ÷ 9 ÷11 ÷ 12
Silver Star Challenge - Level 9 – All times tables and all division facts
What can you do to help at home?
We will be making very clear in school that although we want children to do well and be successful throughout
the challenges that they are not expected to get 100% correct each time. As the challenges will be taking place
every couple of weeks there will be regular opportunities for children to attempt challenges as many times as
needed. We would appreciate you reiterating this to your child (especially in Lower KS2) so that children do
not put too much pressure on themselves.
Here are some ideas of activities that could be completed at home which will support with learning times
tables and multiplication facts;
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Downloading a multiplication song so that your child can learn the times tables through songs
Purchase or make flashcards to help your child – especially the ones that they are stuck on
Multiplication bingo or snap
Multiplication games online
Learn some of the tricks to patterns within some of the times tables
Encouraging children to chant or recite times tables in order and then backwards
We will soon be adding sample questions for all levels to the school website to support practising at home.
Children will be given tests that have the same questions but just in different orders. We will also add in links
to maths websites that have activities that children can use to help learn and develop their recall of
multiplication and division facts.
If you have any questions about the challenges or would like any further details then please come and talk to
Mrs Salmon or contact her on sarah.salmon@bramley.hants.sch.uk
Thank you for your support
Mrs Salmon
Maths Manager
Silver Star Challenge – Level 1
1x0=
10 x 5 =
10 x 0 =
6x2=
1x6=
1x2=
7x0=
9x2=
3x2=
2x0=
7x2=
4x5=
1x1=
9x5=
1x3=
12 x 5 =
6 x 10 =
2x2=
12 x 2 =
6x5=
1x7=
12 x 10 =
3x0=
5 x 10 =
1x8=
11 x 2 =
9 x 10 =
8 x 10 =
5x5=
6x0=
5x0=
3 x 10 =
4 x 10 =
4x2=
8x2=
7x5=
8x0=
7 x 10 =
10 x 10 =
1x4=
1x9=
11 x 10 =
8x5=
4x0=
1 x 10 =
5x2=
1x5=
10 x 2 =
11 x 5 =
9x0=
1x8=
8 x 10 =
2x5=
6x2=
9 x 10 =
12 x 2 =
5x6=
10 x 0 =
4x2=
4x0=