Class News
FMH
Place Value
This term we have had a focus on counting and place value. Each lesson we have been counting to 20 forwards and backwards, then moving on to starting our counting from different starting points to and from 20. We have been developing our number sense by subitising numbers to 10. The students love to call out when we use our quick pace Google slides where they need to work out the number being represented in a variety of ways eg: tally marks, images, dots. We have had a big focus on writing the numbers 1-20 using the correct starting and exit points.
We have been working on our estimation skills to identify a collection of counters. They were very engaged and quite serious when grabbing their handful of counters to estimate. Estimations were recorded and then they counted them and to check their answers, they used tens frames to place their counters on. Their estimation skills have improved greatly in the last 3 weeks.
We have used a variety of games to consolidate their understanding of place value, a favourite being the Great Space Race where each player turns over cards and identifies who has the largest number. The highlight of this game is when the students play against me and they win.
1/2AT
Addition and Subtraction in 1/2
In 1/2, we have been learning how to solve addition and subtraction problems involving 2-digit numbers. We have been trialling different strategies to become more efficient problem-solvers. We have been practising how to solve problems using visual representations such as using 10’s frames and following the Jump Strategy, using number lines. The 1’s and 2’s have also been practising the Split Strategy, using our knowledge of place value.
3/4
Time
In year 3 and 4 we have been working on time. Some students have been exploring the concept of time by understanding the relationship between minutes and hours. Students enjoyed creating clocks outside with chalk and hula hoops and making different times. Other students have been working on planning trips to Sydney to help them with their understanding of elapsed time.
In Year 5 Maths students have been learning about addition and subtraction. They have been developing their confidence using the vertical addition and subtraction strategy, adding and subtracting numbers up to hundreds of thousands and well beyond!
There has been some discussion around various strategies that can also be applied to assist in solving vertical addition and subtraction equations. Students have revised their knowledge of place value and its importance when using the vertical addition and subtraction strategy. This has allowed them to practice regrouping numbers with accuracy. With practice, students have become increasingly confident in doing this.
The students have demonstrated a fantastic attitude to this unit and have been enjoying the challenge opportunities, always wanting to give them a go!
Year 5 students will be beginning a multiplication and division unit this week.
Fractions are a student's first introduction to abstraction in mathematics and, as such, provide the best introduction to algebra in the elementary and middle school years. This makes proficiency with fractions important as they form a foundation for learning more advanced mathematics.
In Year 6, we have been comparing fractions, locating and representing them on a numberline, adding and subtracting fractions with the same, like or completely different denominators, and finding simple fractions of a quantity.
Daraius M (Year 6) - I love finding the LCM when adding and subtracting fractions with completely different denominators. I also like the challenge of comparing smaller and larger fractions. I’m looking forward to multiplying and dividing them this week.
Analia C (Year 6) - Fractions at times can be tough but I really like adding and subtracting fractions as well as converting improper to mixed numerals and vice versa. I look forward to working on problems where the denominators are completely different.
Lachie P (Year 6) - I have been adding and subtracting fractions with unrelated denominators. You do this by find the lowest common multiple of both denominators and I like the maths involved here. I have also been looking at which fractions is largest, comparing positive and negative fractions. I am looking forward to multiplying and dividing fractions with positive and negative.
