Resource of the Week: Counting on in threes

counting-on-in-3sNumber squares can be a great way to show some of the fantastic and fascinating patterns that numbers can make. We are used to the 10 by 10 number square but, of course, they can be any size and the different sizes can create different patterns when counting on. For example, the first number square on this maths worksheet is a 6 by 6 square. When the multiples of 3 are coloured we get two vertical lines of colour. However, when using a 7 by 7 square, the pattern changes. Why is this?

This type of exercise can be used many times and soon children should be able to predict the kind of pattern that will be made, as well as having some practice with learning their tables!

Counting on in 3s patterns

Year 2 Shape and money investigation

Circles, triangles, rectangles and hexagons can be bought in the shape shop. They are priced according to the number of sides. Circles cost 1p hexagons 6p etc.

What shapes can be bought for 20p?

A good challenge which uses knowledge of shape, counting money and logical thinking. There are a large number of possibilities with this and it is unlikely that all combinations that add up to 20p will be found. Nevertheless it is important to try and work in a logical way.

Shape and money investigation

Year 4: 3, 4, 6, 8 and 10 times tables

How well are tables known? Here is a quick sheet to see how well the 3x, 4x, 6x, 8x and 10 times tables are known. Probably the two hardest of these are the 6 times and 8 times tables and whilst it is well worth knowing that the six times table is double the 3x table and that the 8x table is double the 4x table, there is nothing to beat actually knowing all tables off by heart, so that any answer can be given just as quickly as answering the question ‘What is your name?’

Children who know their tables well will find this page very easy. If they don’t know them it can take a surprisingly long time!

Multiplication 3x 4x 6x 8x 10x_(pg 1)

Coming soon: Shape, tables and square numbers

How well are tables known? Here is a quick sheet to see how well the 3x, 4x, 6x, 8x and 10 times tables are known. Probably the two hardest of these are the 6 times and 8 times tables.

I have a nice little shape investigation, suitable for year 2. Circles, triangles, rectangles and hexagons can be bought in the shape shop. They are priced according to the number of sides. Circles cost 1p hexagons 6p etc.

What shapes can be bought for 20p?

A good challenge which uses knowledge of shape, counting money and logical thinking.

By Year 6 children are expected to know the square of numbers up to at least 10. next week we have two pages which  provide some revision of this together with some extension work on finding square numbers of multiples of 10. Suitable for the Year 6 Planning for Block B Unit 3 Week 2.

How to find prime factors

Here we have a maths worksheet for year 6 on how to find prime factors. Before attempting this page it is necessary for children to have a good understanding of factors and prime numbers.

Finding prime factors is often done in the form of a diagram, rather like a tree diagram with the numbers at the bottom all being the prime factors. Frequently the same number is found more than once. For example the prime factors of 36 are 3, 3, 2 and 2.

A good way of checking if all the factors have been found is to multiply them and the original number should result. eg 3 x 3 x 2 x 2 = 36

This page is found in our Year 6 calculating section but has also been included in the Block planning resources:

Year 6 Block B Unit 3 Week 1: Securing number facts

How to find prime factors

Resource of the Week: Time to the quarter hour.

about-what-imeThis maths worksheet on reading time to the nearest quarter of an hour highlights several issues which create problems for children.

Firstly, on the clock face the hours are clearly numbered but the minutes are not and children need to be able to count on in fives before they can read minutes successfully.

Secondly, when telling someone the time we often approximate, either to the nearest quarter of an hour or the nearest five minutes, even when we can see clearly what the time is to the nearest minute.

Thirdly, when saying the time out or writing it we use several different conventions, as shown on the answer sheet.

Lastly, many children seldom come across this type of clock face, especially if they use digital watches, mobile phones etc., therefore take much longer to work it out – don’t be surprised to find ten year olds unable to read an analogue clock correctly.

About what time?

Year 1 maths worksheet: Change from 10p

Thanks to urbrainy.com for this money worksheet, suitable for year 1 children. It’s always a good idea to set up a little shop at home and take turns buying and selling items. There is an amazing amount of maths involved in this, from learning how to write numbers to counting on and back and finding two or three lots of a number. If a shop is not available why not try this page?

Change_from_10p

Calculator game: Multiples of 4

multiples of 4_larger_numbersOnce children have learned the 4 times table this calculator game can be played. Set up the calculator to be a 4 times table machine by pressing 4 x x = 0 and then all you have to do to multiply a number by 4 is to type the number and press equals (don’t delete the answer before pressing the next number). Choose a number on the grid and say it out loud, then try and make that number by entering a number on the calculator and multiplying it by 4 by pressing =. If correct place a counter on the grid. Continue taking in turns with the aim of getting 4 in a row.

Complicated? Why not try the game and see just how easy it is.

Multiples of 4_larger numbers

Coming soon: Money, prime factors and multiples of 4

Thanks to urbrainy.com for next week’s money worksheet, suitable for year 1 children. It’s always a good idea to set up a little shop at home and take turns buying and selling items. There is an amazing amount of maths involved in this, from learning how to write numbers to counting on and back and finding two or three lots of a number. If a shop is not available why not try this page?

For those who enjoyed the Year 3 calculation game on the 4x table there is a follow up with harder multiples of 4 which really test knowledge of the 4x table.

We will also have a maths worksheet for year 6 on how to find prime factors. Before attempting this page it is necessary for children to have a good understanding of factors and prime numbers.

Year 6 maths worksheet: Decimal fractions

A calculator is needed for this page as changes have to be made to decimals, using just one step. This is a good practice page for understanding multiplying and dividing decimals by 10, 100 or 1000, as well as some nifty mental arithmetic adding and subtracting.  It is the second of our pages for the Year 6 plans for Counting, partitioning and calculating. (Block A Unit 3 Week 2) which most schools wil be following next week.

This page can be found in our Year 6 Plannning resources as well as in the Understanding Number section.

Decimals with a calculator (1)