Head Start Maths - The Human Calculator

This activity can be used to practice a variety of different objectives:

• 3C1: Add and subtract numbers mentally, including:
  A three-digit number and ones
  A three-digit number and tens
  A tree-digit number and hundreds
• 3C6: Recall and use multiplication and division facts for the 3, 4 and 8 multiplication tables.
• 4C6a: Recall Multiplication and division facts for multiplication tables up to 12 x 12.
• 5C1: Add and Subtract numbers mentally with increasingly large numbers.
• 5C6a: Multiply and divide numbers mentally drawing upon known facts.
• 6C6: Perform mental calculations, including with mixed operations and large numbers.

Description of Activity:
Place three piles of cards at the front on the room. The first pile contains two sets of 0-9 digit cards, the second pile contains the four operations (+×-÷), and the third pile contains one set of 0-9 digit cards. Call up three students. The first student takes one digit card at random from the pile in front of them. The second person chooses an operation from the set of 4, and the third student picks one 0-9 digit card from their pile. The rest of the class calculate the value mentally and write down their answer on a mini whiteboard. After the teacher holds up the equals button, students hold up their answers.

Lots of differentiation strategies and Hints and tips provided.