A dynamic new approach to learning times tables is sweeping through classrooms, thanks to Rock Out and Dance, a brand-new video series launched earlier this month.
The series has been created by Frome residents Andy Hawkings and Tom Veck, who are educators and musicians and make up the local children’s rock band Rocktopus, which runs workshops for schools, families and conferences.
The free-to-use times tables videos combine catchy rock songs, interactive dance moves and a call-and-response format to help children master multiplication—while keeping them active.
Since its launch, Rock Out and Dance has been making waves in schools across the country, with teachers and students embracing it as an exciting alternative to traditional times tables drills.
Unlike other educational resources that focus solely on maths, these videos encourage movement and creativity, making them versatile tools that go beyond PE.
“We’ve always believed that learning should be active,” says co-founder Andy Hawkings. “As primary teachers, we’ve seen how much more engaged children are when they’re physically involved in their learning. Rock Out and Dance gives them a chance to move, sing and fully immerse themselves in maths—not just sit at a desk and recite numbers.”
The videos aren’t just for maths lessons. Teachers have already found a variety of creative ways to incorporate Rock Out and Dance into their daily classroom routines, including Wake Up, Shake Up Sessions, a fun way to start the day with movement and music, Brain Breaks, giving children an energy boost between lessons to refocus their attention, PE Warm-Ups, adding rhythm and coordination exercises to physical activity and Story-Making Activities, using music and movement in Pie Corbett-style storytelling techniques.
Co-founder Tom Veck, who, alongside Andy, is a qualified primary teacher and experienced musician, highlights the multi-sensory benefits of the videos. He said, “Music and movement activate different areas of the brain, which is why children find it easier to remember facts when they sing and dance. We wanted to make times tables something that sticks, not just something to memorise for a test and forget.”
Rock Out and Dance is completely free to use. Schools, parents and educators can access the videos via YouTube, making them widely available for classrooms and home learning alike.
As the videos continue to gain momentum, Andy and Tom are keen to hear from teachers and students about their experiences using them. “We love seeing how schools are incorporating Rock Out and Dance in their lessons,” says Andy. “This isn’t just about maths, it’s about getting kids engaged, active and excited about learning.”
With physical activity linked to better concentration, improved memory and higher engagement levels, Rock Out and Dance is proving that movement belongs in every subject—not just PE.
To watch the videos and bring the Rock Out and Dance experience to your classroom, check out all of the videos on the Rocktopus website https://www.rocktopusmusic.com/
