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Context First Shop

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The focus of all of the resources on this website is to promote conceptual understanding by starting with context first. This makes them ideal low threshold, high ceiling lessons. Please read the notes below on how to use them. These resources and this idea is new and untested so feedback is welcomed! Please visit the website for more info on how to use these resources. (Some resources are borrowed or adapted from other places - Credit where it's due)

The focus of all of the resources on this website is to promote conceptual understanding by starting with context first. This makes them ideal low threshold, high ceiling lessons. Please read the notes below on how to use them. These resources and this idea is new and untested so feedback is welcomed! Please visit the website for more info on how to use these resources. (Some resources are borrowed or adapted from other places - Credit where it's due)
Whole Number & Decimal - Lesson 5 - Subtraction
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Whole Number & Decimal - Lesson 5 - Subtraction

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The ‘Why’: Why does subtraction work the way it does? This lesson starts with a worded problem about people’s heights. This is to introduce the idea of a real world application of subtraction as well as unit conversion and problem solving skills. Next is an introduction to inverse operations. This explained as being one of the most beautiful and simplistic ideas in all of mathematics; that anything that can be done one way can also be done in reverse. This is shown through bar models and fact families. As an extension of the work on addition, mental subtraction techniques such as partitioning and compensating are covered as an ‘I do, you do’ followed by some practice questions of each. Then, move on to written subtraction. This is one of very few slides where the answers haven’t been provided. However, a place value grid has been provided to talk through the answers and techniques. There is then some practice (with grids) that does include the answers and some problem solving questions as extension. There is then a slide addressing a misconception that is often built in by teachers; that you “can’t take 3 from 2”. This isn’t strictly speaking true. If you take 3 from 2, you get negative 1. There is then an example of how, if you are secure in your understanding of place value, you can subtract using these numbers. There is then explanation and practice for subtracting decimals. Although this will have been modelled earlier, this will be the students first chance to practice. Again, the first screen is an “I do, you do” (without answers) and then practice (with answers). There is then an example of how bar models and fact families can be used to solve algebraic expressions and lastly, some problem solving tasks using algebraic skills. Activities included: Worded height starter The beauty of inverse functions Partitioning and compensating mental subtraction Written subtraction practice Problem solving Place value subtraction Subtracting decimals practice Using bar models for algebra Algebra problem solving
Whole Number & Decimal - Lesson 4 - Addition
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Whole Number & Decimal - Lesson 4 - Addition

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The ‘Why’: Why do we need to be able to add? This lesson starts with students creating a spider diagram on what they think numbers are. Encourage them to think about what you can do with numbers? Some suggestions are included which could be revealed if students are struggling and prompt thoughts in other directions. The term “Gut, data, gut” is used and is taken from a concept used in Marketing. It suggests that whenever money needs to be spent, you will have a rough idea (a gut instinct if you will) about how much something should cost. You then go seeking data to prove that and then realign this with your gut decision making. The example included is a simple scenario involving a shop. Students will have some instincts about how to do mental addition. It is still important for them to understand the different techniques. There is a prompt to encourage this in students. The final activity shows a total bill for four friends who went to lunch and ask them to check their gut feeling about how much they are being asked to pay. Activities included: What are numbers? Gut, Data, Gut example Commutative law Activity Mental Addition Techniques Associative law activity Written Method Practice Problem Solving Estimating Lunch at a café Cryptarithms
Whole Number & Decimal - Lesson 3 - Negative Numbers
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Whole Number & Decimal - Lesson 3 - Negative Numbers

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The ‘Why’: Why do we count a value of less than zero? This lesson starts by introducing the idea of a bank statement with money going and out of an account in different ways. At one point, a standing order for £100 comes out when only £99 exists in the account. It may be worth explaining what a standing order is although some will understand this implicitly. Debt is in fact the origin of negative numbers which is why the lesson starts here. It then goes on to use other real life examples including temperature and moods. Some mastery tasks are included in this from the White rose SOW including the number line and problem solving activities. Activities included: Bank Statement Starter Temperature Explanation Number Lines Activity Temperature around the world Adding & Subtracting Negative numbers Mini Whiteboard Activity Moods Walking in a line to Multiply
Whole Number & Decimal - Lesson 2 - Powers of 10
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Whole Number & Decimal - Lesson 2 - Powers of 10

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The ‘Why’: Why do we count in 10’s? This lesson builds on the understanding of Place value and includes a recap of this if the first place value lesson wasn’t used. When asking students, “Why do we count in tens?” the suggestions around the room are often “Because we do” or “Because that’s the system that makes sense”. Students are often surprised to learn that it is likely due to the convenience of having 10 fingers. Showing the pattern that leads to anything to the power of 1 and 0 also allows students to understand that this pattern goes on in both directions forever. Once there is a good understanding of negative powers of 10, a task framing the usefulness of this to Motorsport lap times is included as extension. There is also a short introduction to standard form which students often see on their calculators. Activities included: Pocket Money Starter The History of Number Systems Place Value Recap Counting in Tens Definition of Powers Multiplying by Powers of 10 Dividing by Powers of 10 Negative Powers Standard Form Motorsport