Maths help for parents of children aged 5 to 11

Free Y6 maths worksheet: reflective symmetry from mathsblog.co.uk

By the end of year 6 children should know and be able to read, write and use the following quite tricky words:

Mirror line,  line of symmetry,  line symmetry,  symmetrical,  reflect,  reflection,  translation, axis of symmetry, reflective symmetry.

Also they should be able to test for symmetry using a mirror and by folding.

Children should be able to sketch the reflection of a simple shape in a mirror line where none or only some of the edges of the shape are parallel or perpendicular to the mirror line.

This might seem easy, but actually prove problematic to many children. A small mirror is a great help with this and children are supplied with one in their SAT tests if such a question comes up - and they do seem to be very popular.

Year 6 maths worksheet: reflective symmetry

Free maths worksheet from mathsblog.co.uk

Rounding numbers can often cause problems, even with older children.

When rounding to the nearest 1 000 the key figure is the hundreds digit.
If the hundreds digit is 5 or above, round up. If it is below 5, round down.

Eg 3 750 is 4 000 to the nearest 1 000.
3 199 is 3 000 to the nearest 1 000

(Note that it does not matter what the tens or units digits are, it is the HUNDREDS digit which must be looked at.)

Be careful that when rounding, children do not write:
2 345 = 2 000
because 2 345 does not equal 2 000.

2 345 is 2 000 ‘to the nearest 1 000’ should always be added. (more…)

Another set of questions using tables and charts. Children often get confused by questions which say that an event was earlier or later when looking at a calendar. If it was earlier then the number of days have to be subracted. On a calendar moving up one position will subtract 7 days - useful when counting back.
Booster maths worksheet: Time (p 4)

An old favourite with the SATs question writers is reflective symmetry. During the test children are given tracing paper or a small mirror. If using the mirror they need to line it up along the dotted line and draw the reflection. if the shape is drawn on squared paper it can be easier to draw it by hand taking each square in turn.

Booster maths worksheet: Shape (p 1)

Being able to read information from a calendar may seem pretty straightforward to us, but many children do not come across these in their everyday life and hence have problems working out how to extract the information.

The questions here are aimed at boosting a level 3 towards a level 4. For those children aiming at a Level 5 care must be taken to read the tables and charts accurately as they are a good way to pick up easy marks.

Booster maths worksheet: Time (pg 3)

Let’s crack on with some more worksheets for practising for the SATs.

This free maths worksheet also looks at a.m. and p.m. The questions have to be read carefully to make sure that the minutes are either added to the time or subtracted.

Booster maths worksheet: Time (pg 2)

Time is a popular theme with the test writers and they are pretty keen on testing knowledge of a.m. and p.m. and how the 24 hour clock works. These straightforward questions are of the kind found early in the test and are easy marks to pick up to ensure a Level 4.

Booster maths worksheet: Time (pg 1)

Two similar maths worksheets here which demonstrate a number of techniques that can be used to answer SAT questions.

The first question asks for two numbers which add up to 140 from the selection given. The easiest approach to this is firstly to look at the units and find two which add up to 10, such as 28 and 32. Then to look to see if the tens digits are suitable; in this case they are not.

Try again 99 and 91 - this time too big.

Try 74 and 66.

6 and 4 make 10. 70 and 60 make 130. Add 10 to 130 makes 140 - there is your answer!

For question 3 the order is important. Start with an edge of the triangle which already has two numbers in.

Booster maths worksheet 13

Booster maths worksheet 14

I will be concentrating on these maths worksheets for the next couple of weeks. For many children just a few extra marks can raise their level from a 3 to a 4 or a 4 to a 5. I’m not sure what it all means in the wider world but it is certainly good for children’s self confidence if they can get that higher level. The worksheet below is further practice at logical thinking.

Booster maths worksheet 12

Those lovely people who write the SATs really like little mathematical puzzles. One such puzzle is to fill in missing numbers in a square or block. There will always be a logical way to find the answers, usually by completing what is possible will lead to the creation of the next possible step until the whole square can be completed.

They also like questions with multiple steps and many possible answers: question 2 is one such. The approach here is to add the two given numbers (300 + 600 = 900) and then subtract the 900 from the total of 1200. The two numbers have to add up to 300 and could be any combination. Taken step by step this is not difficult but as I have stated before, many children find it very difficult indeed to work through to an answer if it requires more than one step.

Booster maths worksheet 11