Maths

Barvember

It has been a bumper term of Maths. As in previous years, the School, and more specifically the Maths Department, has embraced Barvember with joy! What is Barvember? Barvember is organised by White Rose Maths to encourage everyone to use the bar model. White Rose Maths believe that the Bar Model is a useful tool for helping children visualise and then solve maths problems. Even some of the most complex problems can be seen much easier when represented visually. Throughout the month of November, White Rose sets daily Maths problems, suitable for primary and secondary aged children - these Maths problems are still available if you’d like to give them a go?! Click here to see them!

Maths Week England

Maths Week England was set up 2019 with the goal of ensuring that no children miss out on the opportunities that being a confident competent mathematician can give them. In 2021 it became the largest national maths festival in the world!

During Maths Week, as a school we have puzzled over how long it takes a dog; cat; panda and chicken to cross a bridge (https://vimeo.com/768254411); taken part in the Times Table Rock Stars Competition (more to come on that...); and considered how many times you need to fold a piece of paper before it would reach the moon...

Year 7 Mathematical Challenge at Merchant Taylors School

This term, four fervent mathematicians headed of to Merchant Taylors’ School to take part in their annual Year 7 mathematical challenge. Isaac Garricks; Benedict Barrow; Wilfred Okines and Ally McLean, accompanied by our own Maths whizz, Mr Lambert, battled wits with some fantastic mathematicians from a range of other schools in an effort to solve the puzzles (and not get lost at the same time!) The pupils involved said: On Friday we went to MTS, the first Maths challenge was a mix between orienteering and Maths puzzles. Afterwards we tucked into some doughnuts and drinks to prepare us for the final challenge which included some really complex Maths equations!

Maths around the School this term

Here is just a snapshot of what the different year groups have been focussing on in their Maths lessons this term...

Year 1

In preparation for this weekend’s Christmas Festive Fayre, we spent a few lessons learning about money in Maths. We were able to recognise coins, sort them into pounds and pence and make different amounts, using a variety of coins. We put all of our learning into practice, when we visited ‘Year One’s Superstore’. In order to buy anything, we had to make sure we had the correct change. Luckily, we were money experts and everyone bought an item or two.

In Maths, pupils have been building their mental addition and subtraction skills, enabling them to do both operations crossing a 10s boundary. We used manipulatives such as tens frames with counters to build our confidence. We progressed to using Base 10 equipment to exchange 1 ten for 10 ones. Finally, we practised using the part whole model to partition the number we were adding or subtracting, allowing us to calculate the answers in our head.

Year 3

Year 3 have been learning about Place Value from which they moved onto Addition and Subtraction; the children have enjoyed active (and interactive) hands-on problem solving maths sessions, working with their partners and moving around the classroom, solving puzzles as they went. Teachers reinforced the need to read the question carefully, and pupils were able to use lots of resources to support their problem solving

Year 4

Year 4 have been working on multiplication and division this term, using what are known as arrays. Arrays - arrangements of objects, number or pictures in columns or rows - are a fantastic way of actually ‘seeing’ multiplication and division. They can help children with their times tables learning and to explain the relationship between multiplication and division. By considering how dots are arranged in rows or columns suddenly the answers become clear and they are a fantastic way to visualise what can be an abstract concept to many.

Year 5

The Year 5 pupils have made strong mathematical progress so far this term, developing effective strategies in a wide range of place value, addition and subtraction challenges. The Maths team uses a variety of puzzles and tasks each week to help the children build reasoning and problem-solving skills which are the key to success in Maths. It is always exciting to hear a ‘maths argument’ in the classroom: where pupils try to convince each other that their solution or idea is the right one!