“Times Table Battleships” is an engaging and strategic game designed to make learning times tables enjoyable while incorporating coordinate skills. The aim is to discover and sink your opponent’s times table “ships” by correctly guessing coordinates and solving multiplication questions.
What You Need:
Times table Battleship grid (downloadable for free here)
Different coloured pens
How to Play:
Prepare the Grids: Each player has a Battleship grid, and writes 4-6 multiplication questions in the boxes, keeping them hidden from the opponent. Place four to six times table questions horizontally or vertically on the grid.
Take Turns Guessing Coordinates: Players take turns guessing coordinates to locate their opponent’s times table “ships.” For instance, Player 1 might say “B9.”
Hit or Miss: If Player 1’s guess matches a coordinate with an opponent’s ship, Player 2 acknowledges the hit and specifies the product of that multiplication. If, for example, the correct answer is 6, Player 2 says “hit six.”
Mark the Hit: Player 1 marks the hit on their grid by recording the number (in this case, 6) in the corresponding coordinate (B9). Hits grant an extra turn.
Continued Guessing: If Player 1 misses, it becomes Player 2’s turn to guess.
Sinking a Ship: To completely sink an opponent’s ship, the player must correctly state the answer to the multiplication question associated with the hit. For example, if Player 1 hit B9 and the question is 6 times 4, they must say “six times four is twenty-four.”
Hit and Sunk: Once the correct answer is provided, Player 2 acknowledges with “hit and sunk.” A line is drawn through that ship on Player 1’s grid.
Winning the Game: The game continues until one player successfully discovers and sinks all of their opponent’s times table “ships.”
Educational Emphasis: “Times Table Battleships” combines multiplication practice with strategic thinking and coordinate skills. This play-based learning approach makes mastering times tables an engaging and enjoyable challenge.
