Times Table Tower

1Learning goals and what to expect

In Times Table Tower, each platform is a rectangle of blocks. To make the next platform appear, students work out how many blocks it has by multiplying one side by the other. All the while, the platform they're standing on is slowly disappearing.

Learning goals

• Understand multiplication as finding the number of unit squares in a rectangle.
• Connect rectangular arrays to times-table facts.

By the end of the lesson, students can

• relate objects in an array to multiplication facts
• recall multiplication facts confidently
• understand multiplication as a shortcut for counting individual objects

What to expect

It starts off easy, but the higher students climb, the faster the platforms disappear and the bigger the rewards get. Reaching the very top is a real achievement, so most students won't get there. Falling is part of the fun: students simply try again and see if they can beat their best.

Expect a noisy, excited room! Students will naturally start comparing how far they got and sharing tricks with each other.

Watch the walkthrough

This short video runs through the whole lesson from the teacher's side, so you know exactly what you and your students will see.

2Setting up a Polymath classroom

Do this before the day of the lesson. If you already use Polymath with your class, you can skip straight to what to do on the day.

1. Create your teacher account. Sign up for free and choose that you're a teacher.
2. Create a classroom and add your students. If your school uses Clever, your students can log in through Clever instead.
3. Print or share login codes. Students log in at 321.plus, a short address that's easy for young typists.
4. Check your school's network. Run the network check on a school device. If anything fails, ask your IT team to unblock the listed domains.

What you'll need

• One device per student, with internet access
• Your students' usual way of logging in to Polymath (login codes, Clever, or Google)
• Optionally, a projector or big screen for your introduction

3What to do on the day

Show this short video to your class to get them excited about what they're going to play.

1. Introduce arrays and multiplication

In the game, students calculate the number of blocks in a platform from its length and width. It helps if they've already met the idea of using multiplication to count the objects in an array, for example, 3 rows of 4 blocks is 3 × 4 = 12 blocks.

Every class is different, so it's entirely up to you how much to introduce first. Students will also pick the idea up intuitively through play, so you can jump straight into the game and come back to the concept afterwards.

2. Get everyone logged in

Students log in at 321.plus, or through Clever. They can wait on the classroom island or their home island. You don't need to wait for everyone: anyone who joins late will be pulled into the game as soon as they reach an island.

3. Start the game

1. Go to Start Live Game (or Edit if you've set one up before).
2. For the game mode, choose Playgrounds, then Times Table Tower.
3. Choose the times tables you want to practise.
4. Select Open Times Table Tower. Students are pulled into the game from wherever they are.

4. Play

Students race to the top by answering multiplication questions before the blocks fall away underneath them. Your avatar will be on the island too: you're welcome to join in, or walk around the room while students play.

• Change the challenge: restart as many times as you like and pick different tables. Mix several tables together to make it harder.
• Get everyone's attention: use the Look up button to pause every student's screen.
• Support students who are stuck: encourage them to count a row of blocks, then think about how many rows there are.

4Finishing up

When you're ready to finish, close the island to bring the session to an end. Then bring the class back together to talk about what they noticed.

Review

Ask students to share the strategies they used to answer quickly and accurately:

• Did anyone count the blocks one by one? What was faster than that?
• Is a platform that's 3 by 5 the same size as one that's 5 by 3? How do you know?
• Which tables did you find easiest? Which ones would you like to practise more?
• If you know 5 × 4, how could you work out 6 × 4?

Keep practising at home

Polymath works at home too. Students can keep playing on their own home island, which means:

• More maths practice. Actions in the game take brain power, so playing means practising. You can see all of this activity on your classroom's Practices page.
• More connected maths. As students progress, they unlock new game features, each introducing new maths concepts that build their skills and intuition.
• More motivation. With characters, islands and experience to earn, Polymath turns maths into something more than a school subject.

If students don't use the same device at home, print their login codes for them to take home.