Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Rocket Times Tables Pixel Art: Free Printable Game for Year 5
- ForYear 5
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Rocket Times Tables Pixel Art is a free printable game for Year 5 (ages 9 to 10). Children work out each times table sum, then use a colour key to colour a square on a pixel grid. As the squares fill in, a rocket appears. It needs only a pencil and some colouring pens or pencils, and it is screen free.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. The sheet is two A4 pages. Page 1 is for the child. Page 2 is for the grown up, with notes on using the sheet, help ideas and a stretch task. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Page 1 is a grid of small squares, and each square holds a times table sum. Children work out the answer, find it in the key, and colour the square with the matching colour. Nothing is coloured by guesswork. A wrong answer gives the wrong colour, so mistakes show up in the picture. Children practise recall, accuracy and following a key, and they finish with a rocket they made themselves.
Ways to work through the grid
Go square by square
Work along each row from left to right. Say the whole fact aloud, then the answer, then colour. This keeps the order simple and stops squares being missed.
Go colour by colour
Pick one colour from the key. Find every square whose answer matches it and colour them all. Children start to see which answers belong together.
Easy facts first
Colour the facts you know straight away. Come back to the harder ones with a times tables grid beside you. The picture builds up and the gaps show what to practise.
Check as you go
Look at the rocket shape as it appears. If a square looks out of place, go back and check that sum. Page 2 has notes to check against.
Why pixel art and times tables work well together
Pixel art builds a picture from lots of tiny squares, each one a single colour. Screens show pictures in a similar way, using very small dots called pixels. On paper, children do the same job by hand. Each square is small and quick to finish, so the task feels manageable, and the picture slowly comes into view as they work.
In the National Curriculum for England, children are expected to know their multiplication tables up to 12 x 12 by the end of Year 4. In Year 5, those facts are used again and again, for example when finding multiples and factors or multiplying larger numbers. Quick recall frees up thinking space for harder problems. Short, playful practice like this helps keep those facts fresh.
Rocket facts to share
- A rocket moves upwards by pushing hot gas out of its bottom end.
- There is no air in space, so rockets carry what they need to burn their fuel.
- Yuri Gagarin was the first person to travel into space.
- Tim Peake is a British astronaut who has lived and worked on the International Space Station.
- Rockets are built in sections called stages, and some parts fall away as the rocket climbs.
Skills and curriculum link
- Times tables recall
- Accuracy
- Following a key
- Mental maths
- Careful colouring
Tricks for tricky times table facts
- Swap the numbersMultiplication works in either order. If one way round feels hard, try the other. This halves the number of facts to learn.
- Double and double againTo multiply by 4, double the number and double it again. For 8, double a third time.
- Nines from tensMultiply by 10, then take away one group of the number. This is quicker than counting up in nines.
- Build from a fact you knowStart from a fact you are sure of, such as a five times fact, then add one more group to reach the next one.
Key words
- MultiplyTo make equal groups and find the total. 3 groups of 4 is 3 x 4.
- ProductThe answer to a multiplication sum.
- MultipleA number in a times table. 12, 24 and 36 are multiples of 12.
- Times tableA list of multiplication facts for one number, such as the 6 times table.
- KeyA guide that tells you which colour to use for each answer.
- PixelOne tiny square that forms part of a bigger picture.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for the child. Keep page 2 for the grown up.
- Work through the first few squares together. Talk about each choice and say each fact aloud as you colour.
- Let the child do a few squares at a time. Short bursts of ten to fifteen minutes work better than one long go.
- Check against the notes on page 2. Ask, "How did you work that out?" and let the child explain.
- Come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Keep a times tables grid beside you. Colour only the squares with the easiest facts first, such as the 2, 5 and 10 times tables. Come back to the harder ones later. Say each fact aloud and use the tricks above if you get stuck.
To stretch confident children
Cover the key and try to remember which answer belongs to which colour. Look at a square, work out the answer, then choose the colour from memory. Lift the cover to check. This trains recall of the facts and the key together.
Make it a game
Play against the clock. Can you finish in under 15 minutes without a grid? Set a timer, work steadily and check your colours at the end. Try again another day and see if you can beat your own best.
Talk about it
- Which times tables do you know best? How do you remember them?
- Which fact on the sheet was the hardest? What helped you?
- How could you work out a fact you cannot remember?
- Why does a wrong answer change the colour of the picture?
- Can you spot any patterns in the answers in a times table?
- What would you put on a rocket picture if you designed your own pixel grid?
Take it off the page
Draw your own pixel rocket
Use squared paper to design a small rocket. Write a sum in each square and make your own key. Swap with someone and colour each other's.
Times table countdown
Count down like a rocket launch, but in steps. Count backwards in 6s or 7s from a multiple of that number, and shout "blast off" at zero.
Times table walk
On a walk, pick a table and say the next multiple each time you take a set number of steps. Make it a chant to help it stick.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first few squares, then let them lead. Short bursts of ten to fifteen minutes work well. Praise careful checking as well as speed, and use page 2 to see where extra practice might help.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework, supply resource or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 offers support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups. It supports classroom teaching but does not replace it.
Home educators
Print it as part of a wider maths plan. It pairs well with outdoor play, books about space and everyday talk about numbers. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, or for revision a few weeks later.
Where this fits in learning
Before this, children learn their times tables step by step, starting with the 2, 5 and 10 tables and moving up to 12 x 12. They practise skip counting, spotting patterns and linking multiplication to equal groups.
After this, children use their recall to multiply larger numbers, find factors and multiples and solve multi step problems. Fast, accurate facts make that work far less tiring. Come back to this sheet to keep those facts fresh.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Rocket Times Tables Pixel Art for?
It is written for Year 5 (ages 9 to 10), in Key Stage 2. It may also suit slightly younger or older children who are practising multiplication facts up to 12 x 12.
- What will children practise?
They practise recalling multiplication facts up to 12 x 12 quickly and accurately. They also practise following a colour key and checking their work. This links to the multiplication tables strand of the National Curriculum for England.
- How do I use it?
Print both pages and give page 1 to your child. Do a few squares at a time and say each fact aloud as you colour. Work through it together the first time, then check against the notes on page 2.
- What if it feels too hard?
Keep a times tables grid beside you. Colour only the squares with the easiest facts first, then come back to the harder ones later. Short sessions and the tricks on this page can also help.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, or for revision a few weeks later.
- How long does it take?
There is no fixed time. Short bursts of ten to fifteen minutes work well, and you can come back to it another day. For a challenge, try to finish in under 15 minutes without a grid.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. The sheet prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children add the colour themselves with pens or pencils, following the key on the page.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.