Maths help for parents of children aged 5 to 11

It is in year 2 that multiplication and division really become important. Understanding terms such as ‘lots of’, ‘share equally’ and ‘divide’ are all introduced in a practical sense i.e. children need plenty of opportunities to share items out and to group into sets.
The vocabulary introduced in year 2 concerning multiplication and division of numbers includes:
lots of groups of
times multiply multiplied by multiple of
once twice three times
four times five times up to ten times
times as (long, big etc)
repeated addition
array row column
share equally one each two each three each etc
group in pairs group in tens
equal groups of
divide divided by divided into

Find a larger version of this list in the link below.

Remember that new vocabulary should not be introduced in isolation, but in suitable contexts.

(Taken from Mathematical Vocabulary Book DfEE)
Maths vocabulary: multiplication and division

Maths vocabulary from mathsblog.co.uk

Some quite difficult vocabulary is introduced in Year 2. We shall start with the recommended new vocabulary for Counting and Place Value.
Words to do with Counting and Properties of numbers are:
hundreds thousand
threes fours fives sixes
sevens eights nines tens
twenty-first twenty-second etc
tally multiple of sequence continue predict rule
one-digit two-digit three-digit
place value stands for represents exchange
Much of the new vocabulary will be concerned with the introduction of multiplication and division, so a word like threes will be used in a question “How many threes in six?”
Remember that new vocabulary should not be introduced in isolation, but in suitable contexts.

(Taken from Mathematical Vocabulary Book DfEE)

Below is a link to these words written so that they can printed be displayed.

Maths vocabulary year 2: Counting and Place Value

Free maths worksheet from mathsblog.co.uk

A pinboard and some elastic bands are a great resource for young children to use when exploring the properties of shapes.

A reminder that this can be made by nailing panel pins or small nails into a piece of plywood approximately 24cm × 24cm.

Cut out the plywood and mark a grid of lines at 2cm intervals in both directions across the plywood. Tap in the pins at the points where the lines of the grid meet. Leave enough of the pins protruding to accommodate elastic bands.

5 sided shapes are not that easy to draw or make as they can not be made using just right angles. This is a good exploration of the different types of shape that can be made and whether shapes are the same or not if they are rotated.

Free maths worksheet: make 5 sided shapes

Free Y2 maths worksheet from mathsblog.co.uk

Many children find it harder to count back than count on. This is quite a simple page as it does not involve counting back through a whole ten. Sometimes children will count back using their fingers. Hopefully as confidence grows they will be able to see some answers straight away, eg Count back 5 from 46 is 41 because they have remembered that 6 - 5 is 1.

Count back (Pg 1)

We often assume that once children have gained some confidence with small numbers that they automatically can move on to using larger numbers. This may well not be the case.

Here is a simple maths worksheet which is all about counting on single digits from a 2-digit number. The most obvious way to do this is by counting on in ones from the first number, but the question remains as how do you know how many you have counted on? Usually children will use their fingers. For example count on 6 from 24. Start at 24, count one to 25 and hold thumb out, then 26 for one finger and so on. When one hand and one further finger has been extended then they know that they have counted on 6. Essential to this process is knowing how many fingers you need to count on 6 without actually counting out loud up to 6 (as you are counting out loud from 24 to 30).

Adults presume knowledge of this, but it might be worth checking before starting such an exercise.

Free Y2 maths worksheet: Count on

Here we have the digits from one to nine again, this time the task is to use three digits to make 12. This is much harder than just using two digits and it would be a good idea to have some cards printed out with the digits on to help with this. They are available in the reception maths worksheets section.

Again plenty of opportunity for talking about the numbers and what counts as a different way. Is 1 + 2 + 9 the same as 2 + 1 + 9 ?

Free Y2 maths worksheet: Solve puzzles and investigate (2)

This free maths worksheet continues the investigative approach to mathematics begun in year one. It is concerned with children using their knowledge to solve problems and puzzles, find patterns, make generalisations and begin to predict. (more…)

If you have not got a pin board then I would highly recommend making one - not only will it be really useful for shape work right through the primary years it could be a great project to do with your child.

This maths worksheet suggests making a four sided shape on the pinboard with an elastic band and then copying the shape onto the worksheet - not that easy for young children.

Free Y2 maths worksheet: making shapes using a pinboard (pg 2)

Another quick speed test to see how well children have learnt their number bonds. Most children will probably still be working the answers out, probably by counting on from the smaller number to the larger number. This is fine, but we are also hoping that they will begin to learn some of the answers off by heart, especially when taking away a number from 10.

(more…)

The questions on this page all relate to counting on to the next whole ten. To begin with children will start at the number and count on in ones (often using fingers to help). As confidence grows they might notice that to count on 5 from a 2-digit number with 5 in the units will always take them to the next whole ten.

The patterns of numbers:

1 and 9

2 and 8

3 and 7

4 and 6

5 and 5

are important as each pair makes 10.

Free Y2 maths worksheet: Count on (pg 3)