Maths Blog

Scales are needed to carry out the activities on this worksheet which concentrates on using grams and kilograms. For measuring in grams ordinary kitchen scales are fine. Again, before measuring make an estimate. This is where cooking really comes into its own for maths activities. Measuring out ingredients for cakes, weighing pasta etc, measuring the amount of water to cook rice in – the list is endless.
More difficult is weighing in kilograms. Here a set of bathroom scales is better – but make sure they are using metric and not imperial measures. A good practical example is to weigh a suitcase before travelling abroad to make sure that it is under the baggage limit.

Continue reading “Free Y4 maths worksheet: Using metric units”

The first of these worksheets looks at metres and kilometres. Children will need to know that there are 1 000 metres in a kilometre.
Once this is known then the number of metres and half a kilometre and quarter of a kilometre can be worked out.
Half a km = 500m
Quarter of a km = 250m.
Continue reading “Free Y3 maths worksheets: Measuring in kilometres”

The ruler, with whole centimetres on, is introduced in Year 2. It is possible, but not easy, to get rulers with just cm on. You will probably have to make do with a ruler with both cm and mm on. These two worksheets look at short, straight lines and ask for a comparison: which is longest? Your children can measure these lines with a ruler but before they do so always ask them to have a guess (or estimate) about how long they think they are in centimetres. This is a habit which they should get into early and always keep!
When printing these free maths worksheets, make sure that you do not have the option ‘fit to page’ or similar page scaling options on, as this could affect the length of the lines when printing. All the free maths worksheets have been produced as A4 pages.

Free Y2 maths worksheet: Comparing and measuring lines (pg 1)

Free Y2 maths worksheet: Comparing and measuring lines (pg 2)

This week we are going to have another look at measurement and standard metric units of measurement. However, in year 1 measurement is much more about comparisons.
The first maths worksheet looks at vocabulary to do with comparing length:
Widest/narrowest, longest/shortest and tallest/shortest.
The second free maths worksheet looks at capacity where three terms are introduced: full, empty, fullest, emptiest and half full.
Plenty of practical work can be done at home with water, filling and emptying jugs and containers, whether it is in the sink, in the bath or outside using sand. (I’ve just been to St Ives, making sand castles – perfect opportunity!)
Make the most of this by talking with your children – get them to pour from one container to another – ask which has more; we are all often tricked into thinking that a tall narrow glass holds more than a short, wide glass etc.
Free Y1 maths worksheet: Comparisons of length

Free Y1 maths worksheet: Comparing capacity (pg 1)

One of the most powerful tools children can have at their fingertips is the ability to double and halve numbers in their heads. These two maths worksheets look at doubling and halving 3-digit numbers.

A good approach to doubling a number such as 174 is:

1. double the hundred (200)

2. then double the 70 (140, making 340 in total)

3. then double the 4 (8, making 348 in total)

It seems that most people would tackle this by starting with the hundreds: the opposite of doing it on paper when you would start with the units. Continue reading “Free Y6 maths worksheets: Revise doubling and halving”

Children still need to develop their addition and subtraction skills in year 5. These two worksheets concentrate on adding a single digit to a number in the thousands; the answer being in the next thousands.

eg 3 997 + 6

They are also asked to explain how they did it. This could be done orally or on paper. A good knowledge of place value is needed so they might explain by saying, “I added 3 to make 4000 then added the extra 3 to make 4003.”

Not as easy as they look, but this kind of addition should be done “In your head” rather than on paper.

Free Y5 maths worksheet: Add a single digit to thousands (pg 1)

Free Y5 maths worksheet: Add a single digit to thousands (pg 2)

In Year 4 children are expected to be able to calculate mentally using a variety of methods. They are also expected to be able to explain their methods, both orally and in writing.

One skill they are expected to accomplish is to add a single digit to a 3-digit number, crossing the tens boundary. eg 365 + 7 =.

When explaining this orally they might say, “I added 5 to make 370 then added the extra 2 to make 372”.

These two free maths worksheets explore adding a single digit and give the opportunity to explain the method used in writing.

Free Y4 maths worksheet: Adding a single digit (pg 1)

Free Y4 maths worksheet: Adding a single digit (pg 2)