number square | Maths Blog

Using a number square in year 2

Here we have one page from a selection found in Year 2 which looks in detail at a 1-100 number square and is excellent practice at understanding place value as well as counting. We often take it for granted that children can count up to 100 easily, but in fact many children are not at all confident with this.

A small section of the whole number square, just 4 by 3 is taken and most of the numbers removed. The skill is in replacing the missing numbers correctly.

This can be done in a variety of ways. Probably the easiest way is to work across as each number is one more than the number to the left. One of the more interesting ways is to work down as each number is 10 more than the number above.

Missing numbers on a number square (pg 2)

Resource of the Week: Completing number squares

This week we are highlighting a Year 2 worksheet on number squares. This is our second in a series for year 2 children where they have to complete the missing numbers in a 100 square. Some of the squares have been removed from the rectangles which, curiously, seems to make this task harder than when working with a complete rectangle. This is good practice for children who are not confident with counting up to 100. Don’t be surprised if children stumble over counting up to 100 out loud. It is something we often take for granted, but of course, has to be learned and many children find it quite difficult, especially when crossing the tens boundaries (e.g. from 79 to 80).

Thanks to URBrainy for letting me use this page. They are by no means the best site around for Key Stage 1 and you can try it out for nothing here.

Missing numbers on a number (p 2)

Year 2 maths worksheet: missing numbers on a number square

A 100 number square is an essential item to help young children with their maths. This worksheet takes parts of the number squares and asks for the missing numbers to be filled in. It is interesting to watch how children do this kind of activity as it involves both counting on and counting back and a realisation that the number immediately below is always ten more. Most children will prefer to work from left to right, counting up, but they should be encouraged to also work from right to left, counting back, and vertically, pointing out that the units remain the same, but the tens increase by one ten for each square below.

Year 2 worksheet: Missing numbers on a number square