Numeracy Update

Concept, Skill, Apply

In Term Two we have focused on many different areas of Maths.  We use the approach of 'concept, skill, apply' to determine what and how we teach each area.  It's important for children to have an idea of the concept of an area before the skills of how to calculate answers are taught.  If children don't know 'why' it gives no foundation to the 'how'.  From there skills are applied and this may be through real life problems, hands on activities and STEM sessions.

We started the term by revising geometry concepts and examining the composition of 3D shapes, such as how different shapes can be added together to create a new shape and how nets of 2D shapes can construct a 3D object.  We then moved on to deepen our understanding of decimals, fractions and percent and looked at their relationship with each other, as well as equivalent fractions and how to find their simplest form.  Towards the end of the term, we jumped back into angles - how to locate, name and measure angles, as well as angle concepts such as 'supplementary' angles.  After camp we plan to explore time.  We'll look at 12 and 24 hour time, read timetables, calculate elapsed time and undertake some time problem solving tasks.  There are some children who aren't confident with reading an analogue clock and we encourage all children to wear a watch to reinforce this skill.  Wearing a watch also helps to develop time management skills, a vital life skill that is required as early as secondary school.