Section Five: The mathematical reasoning strands
The suggested order for teaching the lessons to a class of Year 5 or Year 6 children is given in
the table below. Each lesson has a particular focus in terms of reasoning strands in the mathematics curriculum:
- number
- shape and space
- number relations and algebra
- data handling and measurement.
The suggested order is based on balancing type of lesson and gradual increasing challenge in mathematical reasoning over the full set of lessons and the lessons within each strand.
When planning the mathematics work over a term, you may wish to incorporate a particular Primary Let’s Think lesson into an appropriate unit of work, teaching the lesson ‘out of order’. Alternatively, each lesson could be taught ‘outside’ the medium term planning, in a time slot allocated for problem solving or assessment and review. The table includes both an indication of some curriculum links and the main strand for each lesson.
|
Year 5 |
Curriculum links |
Focus |
|
Sports League |
Multiplication, algebra |
Number relations |
|
Digit Detective |
Inverse operation, place value |
Number |
|
Largest Rectangle |
Area, perimeter, properties of rectangles |
Shape |
|
Share an Apple |
Fractions |
Number |
|
Scaffolding |
Number patterns, ratio, algebra |
Number relations |
|
Comparing Texts |
Mode, range, representing data |
Data |
|
Picturing Numbers |
Mental calculation, vertical number line |
Number |
|
Cups and Saucers |
Circles (pre-pi), ratio |
Shape |
|
Mini Clubs |
Calculating, properties of numbers |
Number |
|
Tessellating Triangles |
Translation, rotation, reflection, angles |
Shape |
|
Design a Desk |
Length, averages |
Data |
|
Roofs |
Number patterns, algebra |
Number relations |
|
Year 6 |
Curriculum links |
Focus |
|
Half-time Scores |
Systematic grouping, algebra |
Number relations |
|
Good Enough to Eat |
Properties of numbers |
Number |
|
Robots |
Angle, position, direction |
Shape |
|
Caterpillars |
Number patterns, properties of numbers |
Number |
|
Gardens |
Number patterns, graphs, algebra |
Number relations |
|
Who Dunnit? |
Measures, ratio, averages |
Data |
|
Pegboard Symmetry |
Coordinates, number patterns, reflection |
Shape |
|
Halving and Thirding |
Fractions, ratio |
Number |
|
One-way Tracks |
Number properties, networks |
Shape |
|
Beanbag Pick Up |
Properties of numbers, algebra |
Number relations |
|
Which Way Up? |
Probability, data, inverse relationship |
Data |
|
Pencils and Rulers |
Calculation, two-way relationships |
Number relations |