Teachers TV: Algebra - What's the Pattern?

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.