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Tag Archives: math
Idea 177: Maths Estimation Starter Activity
I find that sometimes when teaching systems of measurement, they are introduced without sufficient linking to the real world. So for example, children might know that 10mm = 1cm and 100cm = 1m, but they don’t have any idea of … Continue reading
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Tagged elementary, key stage one, math, mathematics, maths, measurement, primary, starter
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Idea 174: ‘Counting Ball’ Mathematics Starter Activity
I’ve seen many mental-oral maths starters where the teacher chooses one pupil after another to answer a question. The problem with this is that the rest of the class don’t have to pay any attention as they know they aren’t … Continue reading
Posted in Mathematics
Tagged couting game, elementary, grade one, grade two, key stage one, key stage two, math, mathematics, maths, maths mental starter, primary, starter
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Idea 173: ‘Number Friends’ Clapping Mathematics Game
An easy way to practise number bonds. The teacher starts a rhythmic clapping and says a number. The class must respond with the corresponding number that makes a number bond to 10 or 20 or whatever the teacher wants to … Continue reading
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Tagged elementary, first grade, key stage one, math, mathematics, maths, number bonds, primary, year one, year two
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Idea 163: Multiplication ‘Times Table’ Algebra Challenge
This is something that can really get pupils to reason using their knowledge of their times tables. The pupils are presented with a times table from 1 to 9, BUT all the numbers have been replaced with letters. The pupils … Continue reading
Idea 162: ‘Odd One Out’ Maths Mental Starter
Give the class three randomly-generated numbers such as 9, 15, 16. The pupils need to think of as many possibilities as they can for which number might be the odd one out and why. EXAMPLE ANSWERS: 9, because it isn’t … Continue reading
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Tagged elementary, key stage one, key stage two, math, mathematics, maths, maths starter, mental starter, primary, reasoning, secondary, starter
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Idea 161: ‘Same-Different’ Maths Mental-Oral Starter
A simple and effective starter to a maths lesson. Give the class two numbers, say 45 and 54. The class now has a few minutes to think of as many ways as possible that those two numbers are the same … Continue reading
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Tagged elementary, key stage one, key stage two, math, mathematics, maths, mental starter, primary, starter
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Idea 160: Maths Mental-Oral Starter Activity
An easy low-resource idea from a seminar I attended, designed to encourage reasoning and higher-order thinking through discussion of mathematical terms. Give the class a list of statements about shapes (or whatever else you are studying). They have some time … Continue reading
Posted in Mathematics
Tagged elementary, geometry, key stage one, key stage two, math, mathematics, maths, primary, reasoning, starter activity
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Idea 159: Battleships-Style Maths Game Problem Solving
Another idea I used on my PGCE course; this idea is flexible and can be used with a lot of levels with a few quick modifications. Tell your class you have thought of a secret three-digit number, where each digit … Continue reading
Posted in Mathematics
Tagged k-12, key stage one, key stage two, ks1, ks2, math, mathematics, maths, problem solving
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Idea 158: Maths Word Problems With a Twist
One of the issues with children doing maths word problems is that they often know that all the information listed for them will definitely be needed and relevant to the problem. This means they very quickly skim over the content … Continue reading
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Tagged key stage one, key stage two, math, mathematics, maths, problem solving, word problems
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Idea 154: Quick Christmas Maths Activity
This is a classic activity. Get your class to add up all the gifts that are given in the ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ song. Example: On the first day, one gift is given (a partridge in a pair tree). On … Continue reading
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Tagged christmas, key stage two, math, mathematics, maths, problem solving, twelve days of christmas, year 5, year 6
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