Number and algebra

Maths

Primary

Teach KS2 pupils about algebra using the story of a party

A Key Stage 2 maths algebra lesson starter based around how many people can sit at a birthday party table. The birthday boy and girl must sit at opposite ends of the table with all their guests sitting down either side. A single table can sit six children, one at each end and two on either side. When a second table is added, ten children can be seated (two at either end and four at each side). As the tables and the number of children grow a pattern starts to appear. Can your pupils work out the pattern and predict how many children could come to the party if there were 100 tables? This video is part of the KS2 maths Lesson Planning Pack on algebra, which includes two lesson starters, one great lesson idea and a CPD discussion.

Algebra - What's the Pattern?

A KS2 lesson on algebra is demonstrated for primary teachers

A maths expert demonstrates an engaging lesson idea for teaching Key Stage 2 pupils about algebra, and discusses techniques for teaching algebra, in this CPD resource.Isaac Anoom, a maths consultant and qualified teacher for KS1, KS2 and KS33, demonstrates his lesson with a Year 6 class, focusing on creating a formula for how many people can shake hands in an allotted time.After observing his lesson, Isaac, the class's teacher and a local authority maths advisor discuss the difficulties teachers face when teaching algebra.The lesson was filmed at Mount Pleasant Nursery and JMI School near St Albans and is part of the KS2 maths Lesson Planning Pack on fractions, decimals and percentages, which includes two lesson starters, one great lesson idea and a CPD discussion.

Algebra Handshake

A KS2 algebra lesson starter based around working out a formula

A Key Stage 2 maths lesson starter on algebra, using a story of a cold apple seller who can't afford a scarf. The apple seller manages to exchange some apples for a scarf. The scarf seller then goes and exchanges some of her scarves for a coat. The story finishes by asking pupils to work out the formula for how many apples will be needed to get a coat. This classroom resource is part of the KS2 maths Lesson Planning Pack on algebra, which includes two lesson starters, one great lesson idea and a CPD discussion.

Algebra in Action

Pupils learn language skills through real-life maths situations

Follow KS2 pupils with language difficulties at Christ Church Primary School in Birmingham as they use maths in real life situations to further their knowledge of numeracy. Making subjects relevant to pupils' lives is now an integral part of learning. As an EAL school, Christ Church uses maths as an opportunity to give pupils confidence when speaking English in public. Focusing on perimeter and area, see how the upper group of pupils have already progressed in their learning, as complex problem-solving calculations are now tackled with a greater confidence and ease. Learn how participation and relevance can enhance pupils' understanding of key subjects and life skills.

Calculating

Fun games for KS1 and KS2 maths entertain and educate pupils

Engage Key Stage 1/2 pupils with these effective maths calculation games, making multiplication and addition fun. With their Year 3 pupils, headteacher Kate Frood and her enthusiastic staff at Eleanor Palmer School in Camden, North London, play Four Rolls to a Hundred. Organised into teams, they roll a die and choose whether or not they should multiply the number by 10 to get as close to 100 as they can. Meanwhile the Code Breaking game challenges Year 6 pupils to establish the value of the word 'table', having been given the numeric value of just some of the letters. And in the lesson planned for Year 1, the children practise their counting-on skills in a simple but fun dice game called Bird Race. Each roll of the dice moves the pupils up the 'board' towards the finish.

Calculation

A KS2 maths lesson on algebra teaches pupils about using formulas

A Key Stage 2 teacher presents a maths lesson on teaching algebra using formulas and predictions, in a primary lesson idea for use in lesson planning. Michelle Bottomley teaches her Year 6 class at Tetherdown Primary School, north London, how to use their knowledge of the properties of number in order to solve problems. She also covers how to use a symbol to stand for an unknown number. Michelle gets her pupils to look for patterns when working out how many squares are in different sized chessboards, and asks them to predict how many squares are in a 25 x 25 squared board. Finally, Michelle presents the formula that could be used for any sized board, which the pupils use to test some of their predictions. This video is part of the KS2 maths Lesson Planning Pack on algebra, which includes two lesson starters, one great lesson idea and a CPD discussion.

Chessboard Algebra

John Heeley gives a practical demonstration of Pi to G&amp;T pupils

Teaching Award winner Jonny Heeley inspires a group of gifted and talented KS2 pupils with an active lesson about decimals. This lesson provides maths teachers with some concrete and accessible ways to teach students about decimals and introduce them to Pi. Jonny explores the differences between recurring and terminating decimals before looking at the relevance of these decimals in the real world. In the guise of a shop keeper who owns a 'round shop', he helps the pupils calculate Pi and entertains them with his explanation of this magical number. To demonstrate the brilliance of Pi, the lesson culminates in an exercise involving a giant tyre and a box of eggs. Will the eggs get crushed or will they correct calculation save them?

Decimals Forever

Discover eight engaging scenarios for starting KS2 maths lessons

This classroom resource for Key Stage 2 maths presents eight dramatised situations highlighting maths problems to be used as starters for primary lessons on fractions, decimals and percentages, or numbers and algebra. Bring maths lessons to life by: using angles to find Pirate Kate's lost treasure; using fractions and percentages to help Nateisha with her packed lunch survey; using division in both The Thief's Problem and The Puppy Problem. Also explore volume and division in Mrs Hanson's Problem; use multiplication in both Piggy's Problem and The Train Problem; and use percentages in The Cake Problem. A suitable year group is suggested for each lesson start, reflected by a tile board at the start of each problem, where the topic is also indicated.

Division, Volume and Other Topics

Calculate a dice order: a practical KS2 maths division challenge

Give Key Stage 2 maths pupils a practical example to help them practise division, as someone places a large order for some dice in this live-action video. Primary pupils have to work out how many dice fit into one box, and how many boxes are needed for the order, in this KS2 lesson idea.

Division: Dice Factory

How many gold bars can a thief steal? KS2 maths division skills

Help Key Stage 2 pupils improve their division skills with this engaging video depicting a thief planning to rob a bank, for primary maths. To avoid being caught by the police, the getaway car can only be loaded up with a certain amount of stolen gold bars. Primary pupils have to work out the optimum number that can be stolen without being caught, in this KS2 lesson idea.

Professional Development for Quality Teaching

Subjects

> Primary Maths

> Number and algebra