I am a KS2 teacher, Primary Maths Specialist, mum of two and music lover! Lots of maths resources with a sprinkling of English and music planning and display resources. Thank you for looking at my resources; I hope that they help you in some small way to take back the weekend!
I am a KS2 teacher, Primary Maths Specialist, mum of two and music lover! Lots of maths resources with a sprinkling of English and music planning and display resources. Thank you for looking at my resources; I hope that they help you in some small way to take back the weekend!
A lesson originally designed for Y6 class. Resource includes:
Powerpoint presentation with activities on place value of decimals and ordering decimals.
Fun task cards where children have to use the knowledge they have gained in the context of a supermarket.
Printable ‘Star Employee’ stars! (I laminated these and added a safety pin to make it into a badge).
For a really wow lesson, you could use the cards as a starting point, but set up the activities using real-life objects (good for an observation!).
This resource comprises two worksheets of questions based on shape - one with questions at Level 5 and one with questions at Level 6. Each sheet has a self-assessment grid at the bottom for pupils to fill in so that they are aware of their strengths and areas for development at the beginning of the topic. When I first used these I was preparing more able Year 6 pupils for SATs exams - hence the Level 5 and Level 6; I have kept these levels on as I know it helps some teachers to still think in these terms. I used the results to organise groups and inform planning for the unit and then gave it to the pupils again at the end of the unit to assess progress and next steps.
Aside from an assessment activity, these would make a good homework task, individual activity or on-going morning/early finishing task.
The questions cover:
Level 5
I can visualise a 3D shape after a rotation.
I understand the terms parallel and perpendicular.
Give the coordinates of three vertices of a parallelogram, I can find the fourth.
I can calculate angles on a straight line.
I can visualise where patterns drawn on a 3D shape will occur on its net. Visualise patterns on its net.
I know the angle sum of a triangle.
I can measure angles accurate to 2˚.
I can find the perimeter of simple shapes.
I can find the area of simple shapes, given some edge lengths.
Level 6
I can recognise and use common 2-D representations of 3-D objects
I can solve problems using angle properties of intersecting and parallel lines.
I can solve problems using angle properties of polygons.
I can use appropriate formulae for finding circumferences and areas of circles.
I can calculate the volumes of cuboids.
I can calculate lengths, areas and volumes in plane shapes.
I can enlarge shapes by a given scale factor.
The resource is provided in Word format as well as PDF so that you can edit to suit.
A mixture of geometry starter and revision activities that I have used with my Y6 pupils over the years. Ideal for easy starter activities, mental maths lessons, morning task, early finishers’ task, or even homework. I have also used some of the activities for focus groups, baseline assessments and quick revision to keep this area of maths fresh in pupils’ minds.
There are 26 activities that cover the following mathematical ideas:
- Properties of 2D shapes: symmetry, angles, vertices etc.
- Area of compound shapes.
- Surface area of 3D shapes.
- Perimeter.
- Finding missing angles.
- Co-ordinates.
There is a mixture of closed-questions, as open-ended investigations and mysteries to develop pupils’ ability to reason and make rich links between different areas of mathematics. There are also several ‘Always, sometimes, never?’ investigations, which can also be found on my ‘Always, sometimes, never?’ PowerPoint.
This resource includes 17 slides and a paper resource. There are examples from Rose Blanche and Carrie’s War as we were working on a WW2 topic; however, this lesson will work just as well in any other context.
The lesson looks at the effect of different sentence lengths to begin with and then moves on to look at how effective - ing and -ed openers are in varying sentences.
Pupils then write a descriptive paragraph about an image (I chose one from Rose Blanche but this could be any image) and try to incorporate sentences of varying lengths and use -ed and -ing openers.
Pupils then up-level their passages by using connectives.
To consolidate the learning there is a paper resource featuring a selection of different notes to the class asking for advice. Cut each of these notes up and put them in a hat or bowl. Have pupils select and read a note from the bowl and discuss as a class or groups what sort of sentence lengths and structures we would recommend to achieve the effect the writer is aiming for, e.g. lots of short simple sentences one after the other; long flowing complex sentences; start with short sentences and then gradually increase to build pace – use the conjunction ‘and’ repeatedly to give a sense of rushing.
Both of these resources are sentence opener displays (one has an accompanying PowerPoint). I can’t remember why I made two in consecutive years! Although they cover some of the same types of opener there are some differences so I have put this bundle together to cover all bases without paying full price for both!
Simple ready to go worksheet with accompanying PowerPoint- originally used in Year 6. Provides pupils with the opportunity to practise calculating the area of compound shapes. The PowerPoint is really simple with just the same questions as the sheet, but it allows you to display on the interactive whiteboard for the purpose of whole class marking, supporting groups and modelling and discussing strategies.
A ready to go worksheet and PowerPoint of problem solving questions that require pupils to convert between litres and millilitres, kilograms and grams and metres and centimetres. I have also put the questions on to a simple PowerPoint so that you can do a bit of whole class marking, model solving a problem, discuss the different strategies used by pupils or gather a group who are struggling together and work through as a team (annotating on the interactive white board as you go).
All four number operations are covered and some of the questions are two step problems. I used this with a Year 4 class, but it could be used across Key Stage 2 for different groups of pupils. For example, I have used this activity in Year 6 as a quick revision activity and a baseline assessment.
Comes complete with teacher answer sheet and answers on the PowerPoint are below each slide in the notes section. As well as PDF, the resource is provided in Word format so that it can be edited to suit your pupils.
All the starter or morning task activities that you will need for a year! Covering all of the areas of maths, these PowerPoints have an array of activities that have been tried and tested with Year 6 pupils but would work throughout Upper KS2 and even KS3. There are quick-quizzes and closed questions - perfect for baselines and revision, but also loads of open-ended investigations and mysteries that will encourage pupils to reason and cerate rich links between different areas of mathematics (one of the founding principles of the new National Curriculum). Really quick and easy to use and enjoyable for teacher and pupils. Ideal for starter activities, morning task, extensions, tasks for early finishers, homework, baseline assessments and group work.
The first resource (understanding different sentence structures) provides an introduction to the main types of sentence structure and how they are written. The second resource building on this and extends into how different sentence structures, lengths and conjunctions can be used for effects.
Ready to go activities that I have used throughout the year with my Y6 pupils and collated onto one power-point. Ideal for starter activities, morning-task, early finishers’ task, mental maths sessions, revision, homework or even display.
The resource is comprised of 16 activities and the mathematical ideas covered include:
- Averages: mean, mode, median and range.
- Interpreting graphs, tables and pie-charts.
- Probability.
I have also included some pictures that may be helpful if you would like to take the mean exploration further.
I have found these particularly useful for my Y6 pupils to keep refreshing them on this area of maths, but I think that they could also be used in Y5. There is a mixture of closed-questions, open-ended investigations and mysteries.
I am passionate about developing pupils ability to reason mathematically and - as the current National Curriculum states - make rich connections across mathematical ideas.
The bundle features:
PowerPoint that can be used for staff CPD to encourage them to create opportunities to develop reasoning in their maths lessons.
PowerPoint of ‘Always, sometime, never?’ investigations. Where children have to reason and justify their decisions with evidence.
PowerPoint of ready-to-go reasoning activities. These are all open-ended activities that have a low entry and high ceiling - suitable for across KS2, but especially useful in Years 5 & 6.
A ready-to-go quick reasoning activity to use on a maths display or in the staffroom.
There are hours worth of activities here that prioritise reasoning but will touch on all areas of the mathematics curriculum.
This display is all about the author Michael Morpurgo. Information is taken from the website michaelmorpurgo.com and consists of interview questions and answers. I used this in a Year 4 reading corner as he was a favourite author amongst this class.
The resource also includes a picture of Michael Morpurgo and posters of some of his most well-known novels.
The display is provided in Word format ready for you to edit and also PDF.
This is a maths trail that I devised for my pupils and involves them exploring the school grounds. It consists of two A4 pages of questions that can be really easily adjusted to suit your school grounds and the age/ability of your pupils. A great way for pupils to apply their mathematical skills and knowledge in context. The questions touch on many areas of maths including: percentages, measures (length), area, difference, calculation, time, shape, symmetry, reasoning and perimeter. I used this as a general baseline assessment at the start of the year and got lots of data to work with - not only from marking their work, but also from observing how confident they were with maths and listening to the things they were saying whilst going around the grounds. The resource is provided in WORD format as well as PDF so that you can adjust to suit your school grounds or the ability of your pupils if necessary.
Ideas for use:
Moving Up Day: get to know the personalities and mathematical abilities of your new class before September.
End of year fun outdoor activity - no prep but can stretch out for a whole afternoon!
Small guided group activity or assessment opportunity.
Make it a team building exercise by using mixed ability groups and introducing a prize for the first team back with the answers!
Baseline assessment at the start of a new school year.
Activity to be left with a supply teacher or a group of pupils who are staying behind from a school trip/residential.
Ready-to-go PowerPoint with 12 different activities based on the area of measures. These are activities that I have used with my class of Y6 pupils and I have collated them onto one PowerPoint for ease. Really helpful as starter activities, homework, revision, mental maths lessons, morning task and early finishers’ task. Some of the activities could also be used as a main lesson activity whilst you are working with a guided group as there are quite a few questions on some of the slides.
The mathematical ideas covered include:
- Converting units (mass, length and capacity).
- Worded problems involving measure.
- Time.
- Imperial measures.
A set of nine mini-investigations that can be set up at different stations for pupils to move around and experiment.
Idea for use:
Laminate the instruction cards and set them up on tables with the required equipment. Provide groups with an A3 print out of the recording sheet to jot down notes as they carousel around the activities, or provide individual sheets at A4 size either during or after carrying out the mini-investigations.
Files are provided in Word format as well as PDF for easy editing if necessary.
The tasks are designed to link really well with the Year 4 Programme of Study for Science, but I did this with a Y3/4/5/6 mix class (!) and they all seemed to get a lot out of it. There was lots of discussion in the room and it was great to hear pupils practising the vocabulary of sound (e.g. vibrate, medium, volume, source). Would work well as a revision activity, baseline assessment for starting the topic, or as a Science Week activity.
Year 4 ScienceProgramme of Study
Sound
Pupils should be taught to:
• identify how sounds are made, associating some of them with something vibrating
• recognise that vibrations from sounds travel through a medium to the ear
• find patterns between the pitch of a sound and features of the object that produced it
• find patterns between the volume of a sound and the strength of the vibrations that produced it
• recognise that sounds get fainter as the distance from the sound source increases
This is a set of 37 ready-to -go activities based on fractions, percentages, ratio and proportion that should save you lots of time.
I have collated these from lessons that I have taught throughout the years - so they are all tried and tested with Y6 (and some Y4 pupils). Ideal for starter activities, morning task, homework, extending pupils, tasks for early finishers, mental maths lessons, revision and baseline assessments.
I have described them as starter activities, but you will perhaps find that many of the activities can keep pupils busy for a whole lesson.
The mathematical ideas covered include:
- Calculating % of amounts.
- Equivalence between fractions, decimals and percentages.
- Calculating fractions of amounts.
- Solving worded problems involving fractions, percentages, ratio and proportion.
Activities include closed-questions, quick- quizzes, open-ended investigations, ‘Always, sometimes, never?’, scaling up recipes and worded problems.
I really hope that you find this resource useful.
A fun ‘Where’s Wally’ themed display with tricky ‘W’-words and matching example sentences. Pupils can refer to the display when they unsure and select the correct spelling.
Word format provided, as well as PDF, for easy editing.
Picture Credit - Wally and Woof pictures from http://freecoloringpages.co.uk/?r=wheres wally
A ready to go resource with six activities based on algebra. Perfect for starter activities, homework, extension task for early finishers or morning task. Although I have labelled this as a starter, several of the activities could easily keep pupils busy for a whole lesson - particularly finding the 10th, 100th and nth term of sequences and the ‘Always, sometimes never’ activity based on four different expressions.
Mathematical ideas covered include substituting numbers into algebraic expressions and finding the nth term of sequences.
Some of the activities are closed questions, but most require pupils to investigate and use the higher level skills of reasoning and justification. I used this activities with my Year 6 pupils as various points of the year and have collated them on one PowerPoint for ease. I would say they are suitable for able Y6s and could also be used in Key Stage 3.
A one off lesson planned as an addition to the Investigators IPC Unit. The lesson was designed to be fun, but had a more serious purpose of developing the pupils ability to write conclusions to scientific experiments.
The lesson is based on the premise that the previous night when I got back from the staff meeting someone had eaten my chocolates - I had made a big thing the previous day about the chocolates that my colleague had bought me for helping her with her assembly. I had my suspicions about which member of staff it was but needed proof - the job of the pupils. Pupils do finger print analysis, handwriting analysis, chromatography and DNA barcode analysis to gather evidence and come to a conclusion (justified with evidence) about who stole the chocolate. I did this as a real life investigation with some very willing colleagues. Selected pupils were sent off to obtain fingerprints and alibis from the four suspects and when presented with the evidence our criminal teaching assistant did a great acting job when coming clean! Obviously you don’t need to go this far if you don’t want and you can just do the lesson as it is without basing it in your own school. Wherever possible, I have included Word versions of the files as well as PDFs so that you can customise to suit your own school if you like.
This has everything you need to get going - you will just need to label four different kinds of pen, e.g. whiteboard marker, ink pen, biro & felt-tip.
The resource includes a teacher lead guided group with focused questions and recording sheet. Linked to Science APP Grid.
This lesson was rated outstanding by Ofsted. It can be used across KS2 and would work brilliantly as a fun lesson, observation or as part of Science Week. Enjoy!
This is a power point I made for a presentation I did to a group of Y6 Parents at the start of the year. The aim was to education the parents on the kind of questions they should be asking their children when reading with them at home and the kind of comments they should encourage their children to write in their reading journals.
The model of reading on, between, behind and beyond the lines is used to link to the reading AFs and make them more accessible. The Powerpoint also includes examples of past Y6 SATs paper questions to give parents an idea of what their children will be faced with. There are activities throughout, which giving parents the opportunity to try asking, answering and marking reading comprehension questions. It also gives an example of a film clip to demonstrate to parents that they can help develop their child's reading comprehension skills when watching a film or TV programme, not just when reading.
I worked through the powerpoint with my Y6 class and this was a great idea as both the Parents and children were then 'reading from the same page' (pardon the pun!). This powerpoint would work well with Parents of pupils from age 7-11. It could also be used equally well as a staff CPD session.