Month: January 2009

Free Y1 maths worksheet: solve mathematical problems, two more than

Year 1 maths worksheet from mathsblog.co.uk

Sometimes children develop the idea that there can only be one answer to a problem, especially if they are brought up on a diet of ‘sums’ which are either right or wrong. In reality, there are often many correct answers to mathematical problems and this is where investigations come into their own.

Here we have a simple problem, which actually has an infinite number of correct answers. When approaching this, even at the age of 5 or 6 we should be looking for some kind of logical thinking and organisation in recording answers.

Solve mathematical problems: two more than

Learning tables: 8 times table

Learning the 8 times table with mathsblog.co.uk

The 8 times table is another of the harder tables which many children never get a secure recall of. It is, of course, double the four times table and all the answers are even.
Remembering by doubling the four times table is OK but it never results in the really fast recall that comes with memorising the table.

The whole idea of tables is that they are learnt, off by heart. To do this it is essential to say them out loud:

One times eight is eight
two times eight is sixteen
three times eight is twenty four
four times eight is thirty two
five times eight is forty
six times eight is forty eight
seven times eight is fifty six
eight times eight is sixty four
nine times eight is seventy two
ten times eight is eighty

Later these can be shortened to say, for example, “ seven eights are fifty six”.
Below are two worksheets for the eight times table. A good way to do these is to time them to see how long your child takes.

8 times table

Number wordsearch: two times table

Another free maths worksheet from mathsblog.co.uk

It’s a while since we had a number puzzle so here is one to do with the two times table. This should encourage children with writing answers in words to the two times table that they find within the wordsearch. Not quite as easy as it looks as words such as eighteen and twenty are quite tricky to spell.

Number word search: two times table

Number rhymes: Five little ducks

Number rhymes from mathsblog.co.uk together with urbrainy.com

The second in our series of number rhymes for young children to help them recognise numbers and count up to 5 and from 5 back down to zero. There is plenty that can be done with number rhymes such as this, children like to learn them off by heart, starting just by saying “Quack, quack, quack” and quickly remembering more of the verses. They can be incorporated into games: bath time with rubber ducks.

Five little ducks went out one day,
Into the woods and far away.
Mother duck said, “Quack, quack, quack,”
But only four little ducks came back.

etc. Click on link below to view and print the number rhyme and further activities.

Five little ducks

Coming soon: Multiplication, square numbers and symmetry

rocket4Next week we look at the concept that multiplication can be done in any order, suitable for Year 3. Put at its simplest, 4 lots of 5 is the same as 5 lots of 4 or 4 x 5 is the same as 5 x 4. Children should have had a lot of experience with arrays which are a great way to show this.

Also coming soon is the second in our square numbers series for Year 5 which looks at what numbers will make a square using an array or colouring a grid. In many ways this is a similar theme to the multiplication above.

Thirdly, we have our first reflective symmetry worksheet for year 2.

Free maths worksheet: Standard written method for addition of two 3-digit numbers

Free maths worksheet: Standard written method for addition of two 3-digit numbers.

Addition of two 3-digit numbers is usually done on paper, using the following standard method.

The method is to add the units first, put the units in the answer, and ‘carry’ the ten into the tens column. Then add the tens and continue in the same way into the hundreds. Whilst all the questions on the free maths worksheet have carrying to both tens and hundreds, this will not always be necessary if the sum of the digits is less than 10.

To see each step in more detail, together with a page of questions and answers, view the pdf below:
Standard written addition of two 3-digit numbers

Free Y6 maths worksheet: Probability dice

Free maths worksheet on probability from mathsblog.co.uk

Probability often causes problems, even with adults. Take a nomal 6 sided die. The probability of rolling an even number is 50%. The probability of throwing an odd number is 50%. So, if rolling a die 50 times it would be sensible that you would estimate that you would roll 25 even numbers and 25 odd numbers.

When actually rolling the die 50 times it is more than likely that you do not throw 25 of each number.

This can make an interesting discussion point: if you rolled a die a million times would you get exactly 500 000 odd and 500 000 even numbers?

However, is it sensible to predict anything other than an equal number of each?

Free Y6 maths worksheet: probability dice