How to Teach 2 Times Tables in 5 Minutes: Quick Methods for Year 1–2

Why the 2 Times Table Comes First (And Why It Matters So Much)

It’s Built Into the UK National Curriculum

The National Curriculum for England specifies that by the end of Year 2, children should be able to “recall and use multiplication and division facts for the 2, 5 and 10 multiplication tables.” The 2 times table isn’t optional — it is the foundation upon which all subsequent multiplication work is built.

The “Doubling” Superpower

Here’s a secret that transforms how children see the 2 times table: multiplying by 2 is the same as doubling. If a child already knows that 4 + 4 = 8 from their addition work, they already know 2 × 4 = 8. They just don’t know it yet! This connection between doubling and the 2 times table is the single most powerful insight you can give a Year 1 or Year 2 learner.

Even Numbers — A Hidden Pattern

Every answer in the 2 times table is an even number: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12… Teaching children to recognise this pattern gives them a built-in error-checking tool. If they get an odd answer, they know something has gone wrong. This sense of mathematical ownership builds number confidence far beyond the 2 times table itself.

The Full 2 Times Table — Click Each Fact!

Tap any card below to see the answer revealed. Great for classroom display or home practice:

The Best 5-Minute Methods for Teaching the 2 Times Table

The following methods have been structured for 5-minute teaching windows — perfect for before school, during registration, at breakfast, or as a movement break. Each method uses a different learning style so every child finds their route in.

Method 1: Skip-Counting Out Loud (1 Minute)

Start every session the same way: count aloud together in 2s from 0 to 24 and back again. Make it physical — clap, jump, tap the table, or take a step with each number. This repetition builds the skip-counting rhythm that underpins every multiplication fact.

Method 2: Pairs & Objects (2 Minutes)

Use everyday paired objects — shoes, gloves, eyes, socks, wings. Ask: “If 3 birds each have 2 wings, how many wings altogether?” Children physically count pairs, recording each total. This concrete-to-pictorial-to-abstract (CPA) approach, recommended by the Education Endowment Foundation, is the gold standard for early multiplication.

• 1
  Concrete: Lay out real pairs (shoes, cubes, buttons). Count them by touching each one. Write the answer.
• 2
  Pictorial: Draw circles in pairs on a whiteboard. Count the dots. Write the equation.
• 3
  Abstract: Show just the number sentence: 5 × 2 = ?. Can they recall it without objects?
• 4
  Reverse it: Try the division fact: 10 ÷ 2 = ?. Same family — double the learning in no extra time.
• 5
  Celebrate! High five, sticker, or simply say “You’ve got it!” Positive association accelerates recall.

Method 3: Finger Doubling (2 Minutes)

Hold up fingers for the number being multiplied, then double it: “I have 3 fingers up. Double 3 is… 6. So 2 × 3 = 6.” Children can self-check using two hands. This kinaesthetic method is particularly powerful for tactile learners and works anywhere — no resources needed.

Songs, Rhymes & Memory Tricks That Actually Work

Auditory memory is one of the most powerful tools in a young child’s learning toolkit. The rhythm and repetition of songs bypasses the need for conscious recall — children simply “hear” the answer in their head. These songs and mnemonics have been tested in real classrooms with real Year 1 and Year 2 children.

The Classic Skip-Count Chant

Pair Rhymes for Individual Facts

These short rhymes attach meaning to the trickier facts that children tend to confuse:

The Number Line Method

Draw a number line from 0 to 24. Ask children to mark every multiple of 2 with a hop or a dot. Visually, the pattern of even numbers jumping forward by 2 is immediately clear — and children enjoy the physical act of hopping along the line. Laminated versions work brilliantly as desk aids.

Games & Activities That Make 2 Times Tables Stick

Games transform practice from a chore into something children ask for. The secret is ensuring repeated exposure to the same facts in different contexts — without children realising they’re drilling. Each game below delivers exactly that.

1. Hit the Button (Online Game)

One of the most popular free maths games in UK primary schools, Hit the Button challenges children to answer times table questions against the clock. The 2 times table mode presents questions in a randomised order, building genuine recall rather than sequence-dependent memory. Children can focus on just the 2s, or mix in the 5s and 10s as confidence grows.

2. Times Table Snap

Create simple card pairs: one card shows “2 × 6” and the matching card shows “12.” Shuffle and play snap or pairs. The act of searching for matches consolidates the fact-answer connection faster than any worksheet. This game can be played in 3 minutes and requires zero prep after the first time.

3. Around the World

A classic classroom game where two children stand up, the teacher shows a 2× card, and the first to call the answer advances. Quiet, competitive, and endlessly motivating — even reluctant learners want to “win.” Works beautifully as a 2-minute starter or finisher.

4. Multiplication Bingo

Each child writes 6 multiples of 2 on their bingo card (chosen from 2–24). The teacher calls out “2 × 4” — children cross off “8” if they have it. First to clear their card wins. This game is brilliant for reinforcing the connection between the multiplication question and the product.

5. The Doubling Walk

Combine movement with maths: walk around the room and every time the teacher calls a number, children must call back double it. Start slow, then increase pace. This works especially well before a seated lesson as it transitions energy into focus while embedding doubling facts.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Teaching 2 Times Tables

Mistake 1: Skipping the Concrete Stage

Jumping straight to written number sentences before children have handled real objects is the number one cause of confusion. Always start with physical pairs — even for a few seconds — before moving to abstract notation. Children who skip the concrete stage often memorise without understanding, leading to fragile knowledge that falls apart under pressure.

Mistake 2: Testing Before Teaching

Timed tests given before children feel secure cause maths anxiety that can persist for years. Research from the Education Endowment Foundation consistently shows that low-stakes, game-based practice outperforms high-stakes drilling for foundational facts. Introduce timers only once the facts feel comfortable — never as the primary teaching tool.

Mistake 3: Always Starting at 1

If you always start skip-counting from 2 × 1, children develop sequence-dependent memory — they need to count up from the beginning to reach any fact. Practise starting mid-sequence: “Start at 2 × 6 and count on.” This builds true retrieval rather than procedural recall.

Mistake 4: Neglecting Division Facts

The 2 times table and its division facts (÷ 2) are the same family. Teaching them together from the start — “2 × 6 = 12, so 12 ÷ 2 = 6” — means children learn 24 facts for the price of 12. It also builds the understanding of inverse operations that underpins all later maths.

Your Daily 5-Minute Practice Plan

Consistency beats intensity. Five minutes every day will produce better results than one 30-minute session per week. Here’s a simple weekly rotation to keep things fresh:

• M
  Monday — Chant & Clap: Skip-count in 2s with a physical action. Change the action each week: clap, stomp, jump, whisper-shout alternating.
• T
  Tuesday — Pairs Challenge: Use objects around the house or classroom. Shoes? Socks? Books? Pair them up and write the multiplication sentence.
• W
  Wednesday — Hit the Button: 5 minutes on the 2× mode. Track the score and celebrate improvement — even one more correct answer than yesterday is a win.
• T
  Thursday — Snap or Bingo: A quick card game reinforces random fact retrieval in a low-pressure, fun context. No worksheets required.
• F
  Friday — The 2× Challenge: 12 random questions, 1 minute, answers checked together. Not a test — a celebration of the week’s learning. Stickers or stamps work brilliantly as motivators.

🚀 Bonus: Apps, Tools & Downloads for Extra Practice

Once children have the basics, these resources extend and deepen their 2 times table knowledge:

✅ You’re Ready to Crack the 2 Times Table

The 2 times table is more than just 12 facts — it’s the doorway to mathematical confidence. By teaching through doubling, using concrete pairs, embedding skip-counting, and making practice feel like play, you give children the strongest possible foundation for all future multiplication work.

Here’s what to do right now: pick one method from this guide — the chant, the finger-doubling technique, or the pairing game — and try it today. Five minutes is all it takes. Then return tomorrow and try the next. Within a week, you’ll likely see a child who says “I can’t do times tables” transforming into one who shouts the answers before you’ve finished reading the question.

That moment of confidence? That’s exactly what we’re here for. Start with Hit the Button today — it’s free, it’s fun, and it works.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions