March, 2010 | Maths Blog

Carol Vorderman’s maths

Carol Vorderman’s maths
Well, I was hoping to have a look at this but at the moment it is impossible to sign up to Carol Vordeman’s maths site. Too many applicants. Not surprising given that she had a 7 minute free advert on prime time BBC which included talking about her price structure as well as a link on the BBC site to her site. I’m sure all the other companies producing similar maths material, such as Conquer Maths, Whizz maths, Mathsgogogo, MathSphere, URBrainy, 10 Ticks (I could go on!) would like a similar 7 minutes free advertising and links.

Whilst I’m totally in favour of improving maths I do think all these sites should be given equal chances to advertise: but I believe that the BBC are not supposed to advertise.

Coming soon: Fractions, time and calculator activities

On our year 6 fractions page there are several different sets of skills and knowledge needed. Firstly knowledge of measurements eg that there are 1000 metres in a kilometre, 1000 ml in a litre etc, as well as a couple of Imperial measures thrown in as an extra challenge.

Secondly, to be able to write 600ml as a fraction of 1litre eg 600/1000.

Thirdly to be able to simplify fractions eg 600/1000 is equivalent to 6/10.

Getting a clear concept of amount of time is important for young children. Next week’s page on time challenges children to complete a number of tasks in one minute, such as how tall a tower can be built using blocks/lego etc.

Also coming soon is a calculations game to help with learning the two times table.

Calculator game: 2x table

A good way to reinforce the 2x table is to play this fun game. All you need is the grid, some counters or cubes and a calculator. Set the calculator up as a 2x table answer machine by keying in 2, x, x, =, 0 and then all you need to do is press a number and the equals sign and it will show the answer to the number multiplied by 2. Just type in the next number, press equals and so on…

The aim of the game is to make a line of four in a row in any direction.

2x table calculator game

Resource of the Week: Year 4 Find a difference

Sometimes a simple question can reveal a great deal about how children deal with numbers. This maths worksheet on finding differences is full of such questions.

Let’s look at 3005 – 8 which is easier to do mentally than on paper.

There are several ways that this can be done.

1. Count down, one at a time, 8 from 3005, saying each number as you go. Fingers may be held up on each count down until 8 is reached.

3004, (1), 3003 (2), 3002 (3), 3001 (4), 3000 (5), 2999 (6), 2998 (7), 2997 (8)

2. A different way is to take the 8 from 3000, then add 5.

3000 – 8 = 2992

2992 + 5 = 2997

3. A third way is to take 5 off the 8 leaving 3.

Then take 3 off 3000 = 2997

It is well worth talking to children about how they do this kind of question and what strategies they employ. Much will depend on their knowledge of number.

Find a difference by counting up (pg 1)

Year 6 Maths: Fractions

$how many fractions_1$ Here we have some quite tricky questions on fractions, suitable for Year 6. The key to these is to think carefully about how many parts or fractions of a number make one whole one and to understand equivalent fractions.

Understanding equivalent fractions is the key to understanding fractions generally and it is a good start to know that ten tenths make one whole one, as do six sixths etc.

How many fractions make…. (pg 1)

Year 3: Know that multiplication can be done in any order

It might sound simple, but it is important for children to know that multiplication can be done in any order. This is also true of addition, but not subtraction or division and this knowledge comes into play a great deal later on with ‘BODMAS’ etc.

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.

This worksheets asks that the child completes the number sentence by putting in the missing number and then working out the times table.

This can be found as part of our Year 3 worksheets, under Counting and Number.

Multiplication in any order (pg 1)