Mental Math Strategies for Kids
Mental Math Strategies for Kids
LE
UNIT
SA
Unit
Mental and written MP
2 calculation
LE
UN
IT
If the shortest
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pencil is 5 cm long,
I wonder how long
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£4 off
the other pencils are?
any
u r r y w ith rice
c
What was the
original price?
Teacher’s Guide
Look at the pictures with the children and discuss the questions.
See pages 38–9 of the Teacher’s Guide for key ideas to draw out.
24 25
SA
MP
2a Mental calculation strategies Let's practise LE
UN
1 IT
You need: Calculate.
100 square
Add these numbers. Use the strategy of rounding and adjusting.
Let's learn Base 10 apparatus
a 24 + 9 c 46 + 8 e 25 + 18
interlocking cubes
coins b 38 + 9 d 37 + 8 f 57 + 19
Bridging 10
3 4
Apply. Think.
You can also make 1 number into a multiple of 10. To do this, partition
Add or subtract these amounts of money. Oli had these coins.
1 number to make 2 numbers. One needs to be a number that adds or
subtracts from the other to make it a multiple of 10. Look at these examples: Make the first amount of money NT
20
Y PE
15
TW E
NCE
using coins.
Choose whether you will use rounding
To work out 27 + 15 27 + 15 44To work
+ 17out 44 + 17 and adjusting or bridging 10.
27 + 15, 44 – 17, Add or subtract coins to check your
partition 15. partition 17.
3 12 3 12 4 13 4 13
answer.
He took 3 coins at a time and found
Make the final amount using the fewest
the total.
First add the 3: 27 + 3 = 30 First subtract the 4: 44 – 4 = 40 possible coins.
Then add the 12: Then subtract the 13: Then he added 19p using the
a 34p + 29p c 56p – 9p rounding and adjusting strategy.
First the ones: 30 + 2 = 32 First the ones: 40 – 3 = 37
Then the tens: 32 + 10 = 42 Then the tens: 37 – 10 = 27 b 46p + 27p d 67p – 28p He came up with lots of new amounts.
27 + 15 = 42 44 – 17 = 27 Write down the possible new amounts
Oli could have found.
I’ve worked out No it’s not. If you Answer these using the vertical partitioning method.
that 56 add 78 think about it,46009
add 80 is 140 so the e 138 + 125 f 167 + 142 g 187 + 214 h 268 + 134
is 1214.
answer won’t be in Answer these using the short written method.
the thousands.
i 154 + 126 j 168 + 127 k 284 + 125 l 276 + 246
Addition
Look at this addition calculation.
2
Answer these.
327 + 145 = 472 Use Base 10 apparatus or cubes to make each of these numbers.
Take 127 away from each number.
Vertical partitioning Short written method
3 2 7 3 2 7 Write a number statement to show the minuend, subtrahend and difference.
Add the hundreds, then Add the ones, then the tens,
the tens, then the ones.
+ 1 4 5
then the hundreds. 7 + 5 = 12
+ 1 4 5 a 154 c 186 e 275 g 325
4 0 0 4 7 2
so you exchange 1 ten into
6 0
the tens column.
1
b 174 d 243 f 281 h 302
+ 1 2
4 7 2
Subtraction 3 4
Measure. I thought of two 3-digit numbers.
You can use Base 10 apparatus to help you subtract.
Use 2 metre sticks to make 6 different lengths The difference between them is 13.
You subtract the hundreds, then the tens, then the ones. that are between 1 m 50 cm and 2 m. Write Both my numbers are between
This example shows 243 – 128 = 115. these down on paper. 250 and 300.
Subtract 100
Subtract 100 Then 20
Then 20 You need to subtract 1 m 12 cm from each of
90
One of my numbers is
your lengths. Decide how you will do this. 80 an odd multiple of 5.
Write a number statement to show
70
60
60
possibilities as
50
10
Start
Start 1–6 dice1–6 dice
2 19 2 19
4 0
9 4 0
9
1 Make
1 Make it mental!
it mental!
Find
Find the sumthe
ofsum
or of or
difference
difference between between
pairs pairs
of 2-digit
of 2-digit numbersnumbers
using using
a mental
a mental calculation
calculation
strategy.
strategy.
2 Three
2 Three digitsdigits
Find
Find the sumthe
ofsum
or of or
difference
difference betweenbetween
pairs pairs
of 3-digit
of 3-digit numbersnumbers
using using
a written
a written calculation
calculation
strategy.
strategy.
3 game
3 Your Your game
Make upMake
yourup your
own own game
game
using
using the the gameboard.
gameboard.
Explain theand
Explain the rules rules and
play
play with with a partner.
a partner.
Finish
Finish
Teacher’s Guide
See pages 44–5 of the Teacher’s Guide. Explain the rules for each game
Subtract these. Use the same strategy. Check your answers using sequencing.
e 58 – 9 g 46 – 18
Subtract these. Use the same strategy.
f 47 – 8 h 98 – 29 m 34 – 6 o 47 – 28
n 36 – 17 p 81 – 45
For parts e–h and m–p,
check your answers by
adding the difference and
subtrahend. Do you get
the minuend?
2
For each question, make the numbers using Base 10
apparatus or cubes. You need:
summit For example, ‘sum’ comes
• Use the equipment to show how to add the numbers. Base 10 apparatus Many of the from the Latin word
• Write number statements to show your calculations. cubes words we use summa, which means
• Then show how you have added the numbers using the in maths come ‘highest’. The word ‘summit’
vertical partitioning method. from Latin. comes from the same root.
2 19
• Then show the addition using the short written method.
• Finally, check your answer by subtracting the addend from the sum to see if you end up with
the augend. 4 09
a 145 + 133 c 168 + 128 e 257 + 168
Teacher’s Guide
See pages 46–7 of the Teacher’s Guide for guidance on running each task.
Observe children to identify those who have mastered concepts and those who
32 require further consolidation. 33