AD | Gifted
If you’re children are in primary school, there is a very good chance like mine they are learning their times tables. It’s something I still have a clear memory or practising myself in preparation for all of the tests. But, what if there was a way to make it more fun?
Orchard Toys have sent us two games to review aimed at the just that.
First Times Tables Review (age 5-8)
First Times Tables is the first times tables game they have sent us to review. Is is aimed at younger children at key stage 1 level and focuses on the 2, 5, and 10 times tables.
Game One – Introduction to Multiplication
This game is just as it sounds, and is an introduction to how times tables work. It has cards of 2, 5 and 10 times tables with pictures of fruit and a sum on one side and the answers on the back. The bananas are 2 times tables, strawberries 5 and blueberry 10.
These cards are less of a game and more of a visual representation of how times tables work. There are also number lines, which you may have come across in your children’s homework, which is a visual line with numbers that help young children to count, add, subtract and multiply numbers using a visual line as a visualisation. This is a really handy tool if you have a child who is just starting out learning their times tables.
Game Two – Flipping Pancakes
We pretty much started off with this game as Aria has already started doing her times tables (year 1). In this game, it’s all about flipping pancakes using times tables of course.
Each player gets their own dinner plate, you sort the different times table cards into their numbers (or fruit), then you spin the spinner. The spinner tells you which fruit you should pick up, unless you get a splat which means you skip a go. Then you have to work out the sum on the card. After you have given your answer you flip the fruit pancake over the the spatula to see if you have got the answer correct. If the answer is right you get to keep the card, if it’s not you don’t. At the end of the game the person with most cards (you can set a time limit) wins!
Times Tables Heroes (age 6-9)
Times Tables Heroes is aimed at slightly older children and features all of the times tables up to 12. It has two games in the box – the hero city game and three in a row bingo.
Game One – Hero City Game
Hero City Game is a board game where each child can choose a character to play, that character has specific super powers like running super fast or being able to time travel. The game has two spinners and you can spin to get a times table sum. Get the answer right and you can move forward on the game. Land on a Shield square though and the picture will tell you what problem you have to solve with the help you your character’s super powers. The one that gets to the end first wins.
You can choose which times tables you want to do as your questions. There is a 2, 5 and 10 spinner and an all times tables spinner. I really liked this as it gave children of different abilities to play together. Aria who is 5, could play on the easier times tables against Logan who is 8 who did the harder ones and it put them on a level playing field.
There is also a handy times table checker included to make sure you are getting your sums right.
Game Two – Three in a Row Bingo
If you turn the board game over, you can break it into squares and have four times tables bingo cards. Using the same spinners as above, you spin to get your times table sum and then you need to work out if you have that number on your card. If you have the number, you need to cover it with a card. The first one to get three in a row wins. This game is faster paced than the previous ones and used all of the times tables, so it more suitable for older children. But Logan and I had great fun playing this and it got my brain working on my times tables again!
Two really great games to help your children learn their times tables in a fun and creative way.
Giveaway
I have a fantastic Orchard Toys board game bundle to giveaway. The prize includes:
- First Times Tables and Times Tables Heroes
- HeroesMatch and Spell
- Dinosaur Discovery – 150-piece jigsaw puzzle
- Giraffes in Scarves – to develop colour and number skills
- More Things to do activity book
To be in with a chance of winning simply enter your details below:
*Terms and conditions: Entries are open to UK and Ireland residents. The competition closes on the the 12th April 2020. Winners will be announced on social media and contacted via email. If the winner does not respond to the email in two weeks, a new winner will be randomly chosen. No cash alternative available.
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I absolutely love Orchard Games! We’ve got a few that I play with my son, and it’s both great for learning and bridges that gap between toys and board games (we’re board game fanatics in my family).
Love for my great neices
This would be great for daughter who would love to learn her times tables with a game
yes, my youngest daughter!
i love the orchard games had many of them with my older three and now rediscovering them with my six year old and as were tackling times tables at the moment this is a perfect way to go i was looking for a review of the first times tables games before purchase as theres none on amazon and came across your blog! 🙂
These would be great for my granddaughter.
It would be great for my niece
I have 3 boys at school, aged 8, 6 and 5 so they are all around the age where they are learning times tables. We already have a couple of Orchard Toys games. They are great fun and very easy to play. Would love to add to our collection.x
Yes i do – my son!
This would be perfect for my 5 year old grandson
yes
I’m concerned with my granddaughter’s maths.
My daughter is struggling with mathematics so this would help immensely
Yes, my son.
my daughter really struggles with her timestables
my son is behind on his times tables x
My daughter in year 2 at school
My nephew does
My grandson needs some help with tables
My one granddaughter is struggling, any help would be perfect
My son just loves anything to do with numbers and maths, he’d love these
Our youngest will be starting on them soon.
My granddaughter
My daughter Lily xx
My 8 year old would love these!
reading this post I was just thinking how helpful the times tables game would be for my daughter! Seems to get the hang of it one moment, then forgets it again the next.
My grandson needs some help with his timetables
This would be great for my 6 year old granddaughter.
my nephew is just starting to learn his times tables
Perfect for my niece as nephews who are in primary school and doing times tables!
Being miles away and in self isolation from my daughter and grandsons, this would be unimaginably helpful in keeping four boisterous boys occupied while trying to stay sane
My daughter is at the stage where she’s learning her numbers and times table and this would be such a help in teaching her what she needs to know so she doesn’t get bored! xx
This would help my three youngest children
My son.
My son is in year 3 and is really struggling with his times tables so he’d enjoy these
My nephew needs help with his time tables
this would be perfect for my little nephew
These are such fun games that would help my son!
Lovely giveaway! My nephew is learning his times tables. I’m a teaching assistant at a primary school and he says to his mom ‘can we go to auntie lyndseys to do some maths!’
Yes my son is struggling with his times tables. He can do 1,2,5,10’s easily. His 3’s but nothing fast enough.
My eldest son would find these very useful, he is learning his times tables now in year one.
Daughter Would so Enjoy This ?
Yes my grandchildren do and this is such a bright and colourful way to help them!
my nephew would love this!
My youngest nephew struggles, and this would really boost his confidence.
My 6 year old son, they haven’t really started teaching him this in school yet, but he’s a bright kid and I think it would really help his development to learn it!
my nephew x
For youngest grandson, sounds a fun game
Yes, my 2 little ones need some help
my granddaughter
My little boy is learning his times tables, this would be a fun way to help him learn 🙂
My boy is starting to learn times tables, this would be very useful
My Granddaughter, she does struggle a bit, this would make learning the tables fun
my daughter is just starting to learn her times tables and could do with all the help we can get!
My youngest niece!
My daughter is just starting to learn times tables.
my daughter could use these xx
yes my 2 grandchildren so these would make leaning fun for them
my daughter ava could do with some help
Love this for my great nephew who loves anything to do with numbers
This would be perfect for my son. Making learning fun which is exactly what we need while homeschooling.
My daughter would really benefit from this
My daughter Mali needs help with her times tables
My friends little girl would love this definately would be a great help towards her learning x.
My nephew could use some help with his. Thanks for the competition.
for my son who is really trying hard to learn his times tables
My son who has learning difficulties is struggling with his times tables.
My grandson and granddaughter could do with some help learning their times tables!
my godaughter is not quite old enough for school but I think this would be fun for her to play
My six year old is currently learning her times tables
My nephew x
my little boy!
Our granddaughter, she’d enjoy learning them with these
Definitely would be good for my daughter daisy she just starting to learn them
my daughter would love this
These would be perfect for my son as he’s more of a visual learner and has been struggling with his times tables.
these would be ideal for my youngest son
Lovely gift to keep the kids busy ?
I think my nephew could use this. Thanks for the competition.
My nephews are just beginning to learn their times tables, this looks like a fun tool to help them learn
My daughter is 5 and has done her 2x 5x and 10x tables so far. This would be amazing to help reinforce those and learn the others too.
This would be great for my daughter!
I absolutely love Orchard Games! I buy them all the time for my Son and as gifts
Yes my daughter is just starting 🙂
My five year old Sally Rainbow will be in year 2 in September and recently started doing times tables, we all love Orchard toys in our house.
Yes – perfect for my son!
This would be ideal for my granddaughter. She’s trying to learn her times tables at the moment
My niece x
My niece
Yes this would be perfect for my daughter 😀
my son needs to learn his times tables