Multiplication wheel
The wheel holds the numbers 1 to 12. To practise one times table, spin once and multiply the result by that table: spin a 7 while working on the 4s and the question is 7 × 4. For mixed facts, spin twice and multiply the two numbers together.
Press Spin, click the wheel, or press Ctrl + Enter.
Results
- Your results will appear here.
How to practise times tables with the wheel
Pick the mode
Decide whether you are drilling one table, such as the 6s, or mixing all the facts from 1 × 1 to 12 × 12.
Spin for the question
For one table, spin once and multiply by that table. For mixed facts, spin twice; the two results are the two numbers to multiply.
Answer before the pop-up closes
Say or write the answer, then check it. The Results list keeps both spins if you need to look back.
Adjust the range
Change From and To to make the questions easier or harder, then press Build wheel.
How does a multiplication wheel work?
The wheel supplies the numbers and the learner supplies the maths. That is the whole trick, and it is why a plain 1 to 12 wheel is so flexible. A spin makes the question unpredictable, so children cannot just chant the table in order, which is how facts start to stick for real.
Twelve slices matches the tables most schools teach. In England, pupils take a multiplication tables check in Year 4 covering tables up to 12 × 12. In the United States, the Common Core standards expect children to know all products of two one-digit numbers from memory by the end of Grade 3.
Quick drills for home or class
- Beat your streak: spin and answer until you get one wrong. Write down the streak and try to beat it tomorrow.
- Whiteboards up: the teacher spins, everyone writes the answer on a mini whiteboard and holds it up on a count of three.
- Ten a day: ten spins at breakfast or the start of a lesson. The Results list shows what came up, so you can revisit the misses.
- Say it both ways: after answering 8 × 3, the learner also says 3 × 8, which reinforces that order does not change the product.
Times table games with a spinner
For pairs, one child spins twice and the other answers; swap roles after five questions. For a class, split into two teams and let the classroom name picker choose who answers each spin, so everyone stays alert. Award a point for each correct answer and a bonus for a quick one.
A popular twist is “teacher versus class”: the class wins a point for every correct answer and the teacher wins a point for every wrong one. First to ten wins a small treat from the classroom reward ideas. More formats are in spinner wheel games for classrooms.
How do I make it easier or harder?
Change the range, press Build wheel, and the questions change with it. Children just starting out often do best with the 2s, 5s and 10s, so spin 1 to 5 or 1 to 10 and multiply by one of those. When the easy facts are secure, set From to 6 and To to 12 to concentrate on the harder facts that trip most learners up.
You can also turn the wheel into division practice. Spin a number, multiply it by the table in secret, say only the answer, and ask the learner to find the missing number: “I am thinking of something times 7 that makes 56.”
Common pitfalls
Do not race children who are still unsure; speed comes after accuracy, not before. Keep sessions short, five minutes is plenty, and mix in facts the child already knows so they get some easy wins. If a group needs bigger or odder numbers, the custom number wheel builds any range, and two dice from the dice roller make a portable version for 1 × 1 up to 6 × 6.
Frequently asked questions
How do I use the wheel for one times table?
Spin once and multiply the result by the table you are practising. For the 9 times table, a spin of 4 means 4 × 9. This keeps the questions in random order, so learners cannot rely on counting up.
How do I practise mixed times tables?
Spin twice and multiply the two numbers. With the full 1 to 12 range, that covers every fact from 1 × 1 to 12 × 12. Both spins appear in the Results list if you need to check them.
Can the wheel show the answer?
No. The wheel only picks numbers, it does not calculate. That is deliberate for practice: the learner works out the answer, and an adult, a partner or a times-table chart checks it.
Can I go past 12?
Yes. Change To to 15, 20 or any number you like and press Build wheel. Number wheels hold up to 1,000 slices, so bigger practice ranges are easy to set up.
How can I stop the same fact repeating?
For single-table practice, tick Remove the winner after each spin in Settings. Twelve spins then cover every fact in that table exactly once, in a random order.