Looking for easy times tables songs for children who are learning their times tables? Want to know how to learn times tables by singing? Try these tunes!
How to learn times tables by singing
Magic Fun Math lessons!
Fun Math is an easy to teach, highly effective math curriculum based on play and hands-on learning.
All the lessons are designed to be fun and memorable, so children enjoy their lessons and feel confident.
The lessons are easy for teachers and parents to use, in class or at home.
These are the magic lessons where children really see, understand, and can apply math concepts. They are especially suited to children who don’t like math, lack confidence, don’t understand math the way they are currently being taught, or just want to play.
SEE MORE AND TRANSFORM YOUR MATH TEACHING HERE.
Singing your times tables is such a fun way to learn multiplication!
Knowing your times tables is an important building block in math skills. It’s such a help if you know them. If you can recall them quickly and easily, it frees up your brain to concentrate and work on other more complex areas of maths. You’ll find later math lessons much easier if you know your times tables.
But, not everyone does find it easy to memorise times tables. I’ve known children who’ve picked up their times tables easily, and ones who have struggled. Bright, intelligent children who find other areas of math easy to understand can still find learning their times tables a real challenge.
One thing that I’ve found to be really helpful, with all the children I’ve worked with, is to sing your times tables!
Why does singing times tables make it easier to learn them? Perhaps it’s because you’re adding in an extra sensory element. Maybe it’s because it’s more fun, so you don’t mind practicing. Maybe, like an annoying jingle from an advert, it simply gets stuck in your head.
Whatever the reason, singing your times tables really works. Give these times table songs a try and I’m sure you’ll find them a great help.
Using a multi-sensory times tables station
Practice makes perfect, and hands-on learning really helps concepts stick, so be sure to check out this multi-sensory times table station and use it as part of your multiplication practice too.
Fun skip counting activities
And try these fun skip counting activities too – they’re great to combine with songs.
Easy songs to learn times tables
When it comes to using songs to learn times tables, I’m looking for three things.
Firstly, I want the song to be really easy to remember, so using a tune your children already know is perfect.
Secondly, I want to be able to use the song really quickly, under my breath, when I need it. Some times tables songs a too long and slow, and are impractical. When you’re using the songs as part of your math work, you don’t want to get stuck for five minutes singing one times one is three, two times three is six…. We need to be able to cut to the 3 6 9 12…. answers really quickly. For this reason we only sing the answers part of the times table. We can use our fingers if we need to mark the one times, two times, three times part to keep track, but our songs only sing the answers.
Thirdly, we need a song that fits with the beat of the times table pattern – the syllables of the numbers need to fit the song naturally or it doesn’t work.
The best songs for learning times tables
The two, five, and ten times tables, we simple chant. These are the times tables we learn first, and we have so much repetition of them from an early age, that chanting, perhaps while clapping or stamping our feet, is all we need for these ones.
Three times table song
This is the one that got us started with singing our times tables, thanks to the inspiration of Mr. Demaio singing it to UpTown Funk. Check out his super fun video above and see more on his Youtube channel. We focus on singing just the section with the answers which you can hear from minute 1:05 to minute 1:12 on the video.
Four times table song
We Row, Row, Row, Your Boat for the four times table and the pattern fits nicely.
Six times table song
For the six times table, sing to the tune of Happy Birthday To You!
Seven times table song
For the seven times table we use Old MacDonald Had A Farm. Try it!
Old Mac = seven
Donald = fourteen
Had A Farm = twenty one
E I = twenty eight
E I O = thir-ty five etc.
Eight times table song
Cheat time! The eight times table is the worst, right?! And so far I haven’t found a great song for this one.
So with children who are struggling, we unashamedly cheat here! The only entry in the eight times table we learn is 8 x 8 is 64. For every other part, we use one of the other times table songs to find our answer. So for example, for 6 x 8 we sing the six times table.
Are you shocked we skip the 8s? Ha! Let me know if you do have a great song for the 8s and we can add it in.
Nine times tables
We don’t use a song for the nine times tables either. Instead we use the nine times table finger trick! Have you seen this one? Kids love because it so cool and clever. And because you always have your hands with you, it’s a trick you can rely on whenever you need it.
Free times tables printables
Don’t forget to get your free times tables printables before you go! Follow the instructions below to get your free set.
Get access to ALL my free printables by subscribing to my email list.
To download my free printables, you'll need to visit the NurtureStore Printables Library, which is available to all subscribers to my email list, and of course to Play Academy members.
Pop your email address in the form below and you’ll get access to all my free printables, lesson plans, activity ideas, weekly newsletter, and a whole lot more!
After subscribing, be sure to check for the confirmation email. After you confirm your email subscription, we'll send you a welcome email which includes instructions for downloading our free printables.
If you're already subscribed to our email newsletter: check your email for the latest edition of the newsletter where you’ll find a link to access our free printables library - the link is usually at the bottom of the email.
For help accessing our printables, click here.
By subscribing, you consent to our use of your personal data as per our Privacy Policy, which includes agreeing to receiving interest-based email from us.
Transform your teaching with Fun Math
The Fun Math series gives you a math curriculum that is easy to teach and highly effective.
Children love these lessons because they are engaging and fun.
You'll have a clear set of ready-made math lessons and activities that are simple to lead using our step-by-step lesson guides, and which children really understand.
Be the best math teacher and boost your children's confidence and skills with Fun Math.
See more and transform your teaching here.
katieh says
We start back to ‘school’ next week and this is exactly what I needed! Thank you!
Angelina says
For 8 times table you can use Mary had a little lamb and frere jaque.
Cathy James says
Thank you!
Anne Smith says
For the eight times table I use “Hot cross buns”, which works well.
Vince Avellano says
9 can be used with “If you’re happy and you know it”.
if 9
you’re happy 18
and you know it 27
clap your hands 36
(2x)
if you’re happy 45
and you know it 54
then your face 63
would really show it 72
if you’re happy and 81
you know it clap your hands (and the last is ninety 90)
Cathy James says
Brilliant!