Stage 3 Maths Member

Christian’s Market Stacks

Everyday story · Teaches: The 5 times table · Featuring Emily

At the market, Uncle Christian stacked oranges in piles of five. “Count the piles,” he said, “and you can count all the oranges, fast.”

One pile: 5. Two piles: 10. Three piles: 15. “Look!” said Emily. “They end in 5, then 0, then 5, then 0.” That is the pattern (a repeating rule) of the 5 times table.

“Four fives are 20. Five fives are 25,” she chanted. Counting in fives was much quicker than counting every single orange.

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This story teaches

The 5 times table

Maths

Answer guide, for grown-ups

Ask each question, then compare. A child’s own words are perfect as long as the idea is right.

1. What pattern did Emily spot in the 5 times table?

The answers end in 5, then 0, then 5, then 0, over and over.

✓ Understood if the child notices the answers all end in 5 or 0.

2. What is 7 × 5? Use the pattern to help.

7 x 5 = 35, which ends in a 5 just as the pattern shows.

✓ Understood if the child gives 35.

3. How is counting in fives faster than counting one by one?

You jump five at a time instead of counting every single orange, so you reach the total much faster.

✓ Understood if the child explains that skip-counting in 5s is quicker than counting one by one.

4. Where do things come in fives in real life?

For example, fingers on a hand, toes on a foot, or 5p coins.

✓ Understood if the child gives a sensible group-of-five example.

Maths Moment: Counting in 5s to 50: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50. Every answer ends in a 5 or a 0.

For parents, Cambridge curriculum

Mapped to these Cambridge Primary objectives. Open a framework to verify.

Maths

Stage 3 · Number
Know and use the 5 times table and recognise its number patterns.
Verify in Cambridge Mathematics (0096) ↗