Sums at home: software review

Sums at home: software review

sums at homeSumsathome: a series of 6 CDs for children between 5 and 12. The level 3, 4, 5 and 6 CDs each contain 16 activities, whilst levels 1 and 2 only contain 8. For example the level 3 CD contains activities on tables, division, doubling and halving, surveys , tables and pictograms, Carroll diagrams, multiples and number sequences, odd and even numbers, grouping in tens, directions, symmetry, co-ordinates and patterns. They have not been updated to meet the new requirements of the Primary Framework for maths.

Activities are displayed very well in a bright clear format. The interface is straightforward and easy to use, but the games tend to be very slow moving. The children I worked with on the level 3 CD enjoyed doing the first sum or activity but soon became irritated whilst waiting for the next question to materialise: eg the numbers for a division sum take a long time to move along pipes before the question can be answered. If this was put on an interactive whiteboard in a classroom where the teacher is talking about the questions this slow pace would not be so noticeable.

Only available from the above website, £29.95 each for the level 3 to 6 CDs makes these expensive for what they are and there are better CDs on the market covering much the same material. They do offer a money back guarantee so you can make your own mind up and postage and packing are included in the price.

4 out of 10Interest

7 out of 10Maths content

3 out of 10Value for money

Free Y4 maths worksheets: What must be added?

Free Y4 Maths worksheets. What must be added?

know2Both these free worksheets look at questions which involve adding on from one number to make another. In this case they are all adding on from a 3-digit number to the next whole hundred. Again, there is more than one way to do these. As an example look at the question:

“What must be added to 345 to make 400?”

Method 1: add on from 345 to 350 (5) then add 50 to make 350.

Method 2: add on 50 to 345 to make 395 then count on the extra 5.

Plenty of practice still needed at counting up and down in whole tens and as with all mental arithmetic remember to ask your child how they reached the answer as well as seeing whether it is correct or not.

Free Y4 maths worksheet: What must be added? (pg 1)

Free Y4 maths worksheet: What must be added? (pg 2)