Gwaunmeisgyn Primary School
Maths support for parents
Year 5
Dear Parents/Guardians
We have put together this pack outlining the objectives your child is
working towards this year, and the strategies we teach to help them meet
those objectives. Within this pack you will find objectives, examples of
each strategy taught and web-site links to reinforce these strategies
which can be used by your child at home. We have also included a
number of ways in which you can incorporate maths into everyday life
bringing the learning to life for your child.
A lot of emphasis in Mathematics teaching is placed on using mental
calculations where possible, using jottings to help support thinking. As
children progress through the school and are taught more formal written
methods, they are still encouraged to think about mental strategies they
could use first and only use written methods for those calculations they
cannot solve in their heads. It is important that children are secure with
number bonds (adding numbers together and subtracting them e.g. 106=4, 13+7=20) and have a good understanding of place value (tens and
units etc.) before embarking on formal written methods.
Discussing the efficiency and suitability of different strategies is an
important part of maths lessons. Explaining strategies and processes
orally helps to develop the use of appropriate mathematical vocabulary.
When faced with a calculation problem, encourage your child to ask:
Can I do this in my head?
Could I do this in my head using drawings or jottings to help me?
Do I need to use a written method?
Should I use a calculator?
Also help your child to estimate and then check the answer.
Encourage them to ask whether the answer is sensible.
We hope you find this useful and as your child moves through the school
you will receive updated versions of this for you to keep up with their
learning.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s
class teacher.
Yours sincerely
Mrs Jan Morgan
Mr Mark O’Brien
Year 5
BIG Maths ‘CLIC’
Year 5
Number lines are a very important tool in learning how to calculate
efficiently.
Children make jumps up and down the number line to help them solve
mathematical problems.
Times tables facts are used in many areas of number and it is important
that the children are quick in their recall of these facts. In school, we
sometimes use times table squares.
Year 5
Objective
Extend mental-methods for whole-number calculations, to multiply a two
digit by a one digit number.
Strategies
When multiplying a one digit by two digit number the children are
encouraged to partition the two digit number before multiplying
e.g. 12 x 9
Becomes
10 x 9 = 90
2 x 9 = 18
90 + 18 = 108
Objective
Use understanding of place value to multiply whole numbers and decimals
by 10, 100 or 1000
Strategies
When multiplying by 10, 100 or 1000 the children are reminded that a ‘0’
holds open a place and must be included in the new, bigger number:
When multiplying by 10, every digit becomes 10 times BIGGER. EVERY
digit moves one place to the LEFT.
When we multiply by 100 all numbers move two places to the left,
representing the two zeros in 100.
When we multiply by 1000 all numbers move three places to the left,
representing the three zeros in 1000.
Objective
Use understanding of place value to divide whole numbers and decimals
by 10, 100 or 1000
Strategies
When dividing by 10, 100 or 1000 the children are reminded that the
number of ‘0’s’ in a number shows how many places to the RIGHT the
numbers move.
12.60 ÷ 10 =
When we divide by 100 all numbers move two places to the right,
representing the two zeros in 100.
When we divide by 1000 all numbers move three places to the right,
representing the three zeros in 1000.
Whether multiplying or dividing, we never talk about the decimal point
moving, it is always the numbers that move.
Objective
Find fractions of numbers and quantities
Strategies
When finding fractions of numbers and quantities the children are first
encouraged to look at the fraction required:
The two parts of a fraction do a different job.
2
numerator
3
denominator
The denominator tells us how many equal parts to split the number or
quantity in to.
The numerator tells us how many parts of the number or quantity we
need once it has been split up
To find 2/3 of 12. The number 12 will be divided by the denominator:
12 ÷ 3 = 4
The equal part (4) will then be multiplied by the numerator:
4x2=8
So 2/3 of 12 =8
Objective
Find percentages of numbers and quantities
Strategies
When finding percentages of numbers and quantities children are taught
that a percentage means part of a hundred.
e.g. to find 40% of 50
We first look at splitting the quantity into one hundred parts:
50 ÷ 100 = 0.5
We then multiply by the percentage required:
0.5 x 40 = 20
If it is a simple percentage we encourage the children to use their
understanding of the link with fractions.
e.g. 50% = ½
25% = ¼
75% = ¾
divide by 2
divide by 4
divide by 4 then multiply by 3
Objective
Use efficient written methods to add whole numbers and decimals with up
to two places.
Strategies
When writing down sums, separate the numbers into units, tens,
hundreds and thousands. List the numbers in a column and always start
adding with the units first. When the number added together is 10 or
more the number in the tens column is carried over and the units is put
into the answer of the sum.
7948 + 1223 = 9171
When adding together decimals it is important to ensure that the numbers
are placed in the correct column and that the decimal point stays in the
same place.
0.875 + 1.226 = 2.101
Objective
Use efficient written methods to subtract whole numbers and decimals
with up to two decimal places.
Strategies
When subtracting one number from another the children are taught to
write the numbers down in columns.
6418 – 1223
Some children find it easier to use a number line to count up to find the
difference between two numbers when subtracting one number from
another.
4022 – 3004
We take the smaller number from the sum (3004) and place it at the
beginning of the number line and then count on to (4022) to find the
difference.
Now add we add up the jumps we have done to find the answer.
1000 + 10 + 2 + 6 = 1018
Objective
Refine and use efficient written methods to multiply HTU × U
Strategies
When using the vertical method, children are encourages to line up the
units, tens and hundreds underneath each other and then multiply each
digit, starting with the units.
246 x 3
Objective
Refine and use efficient written methods to multiply U.t × U
Strategies
When multiplying a decimal number the children are encouraged to put
their decimal point in the answer box before multiplying, ensuring that
the decimal point is in the same place and doesn’t lose its place in the
sum.
2.7 x 6
2.7
x 6
16.2
4
First 6x 7 = 42
The 2 from the units is put in the answer and 4 is carried to the next
column.
Then 6 x 2 = 12 + 4 from the numbers carried over.
Web-site links Year 5
Many of the children will recognise areas of these web-sites as they are
often used in the classroom to consolidate the children’s learning.
https://www.sites.google.com/site/mathsghost13/
This website fits in with many of the Big Maths strategies used in the
classroom
http://durham.schooljotter.com/coxhoe/Curriculum+Links/Numeracy
Broken down into the different areas of maths. This web-site has many
links to other sites, plus a large number of maths games and activities.
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/
Each specific area of maths has a number of different games to play to
practice maths skills.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/maths/
Each specific area of maths can be chosen. You can read through the
strategies and then play the games to test out the skills learnt.
http://www.mathsisfun.com/
This site has teaching methods, games and activities ranging from basic
counting up to more complex methods.
http://www.mathszone.co.uk/
http://www.crickweb.co.uk/ks2numeracy.html
http://www.mad4maths.com/kids/
This website is broken up into different areas:
Kids – Children can play games and learn different strategies
Parents – For parents to learn strategies to support and help children at
home with printable worksheets to support extra work
Helping at home
Year 5
o When out shopping encourage your child to calculate the total price of 2
items and how much change they may get from £10, £20, £50 etc.
o Play number ‘ping pong’ with your child. Say a number and ask them to
respond with the number pair to 100, 1000, 1 etc.
o When cooking ask your child to measure or weigh given amounts to
allow them to practice reading scales.
o For football fans, read the sport results in newspapers and ask
questions regarding total goals, points, how many more are needed, the
difference between 2 scores etc.
o Read, add, subtract, multiply numbers children may find on vehicle
number plates as you travel round.
o Encourage your child to read the time as often as possible, this not only
helps them to learn to read a clock but also gives them a concept of time.
o Many games such as scrabble and darts help children to develop their
maths skills.
o Whenever you use maths in the home or out and about discuss this with
your child in order for them to see and share in its relevance.
o Finally it is really important that children know their 2,3,4,5,6,8 and 10
times tables, and learn their 7 and 9 times tables for quick recall by end
of the year. This will help children solve larger multiplication facts.