Springboard 6: Lessons for use in booster classes

Index to lessons 23 - 30

The table below lists lessons 23 - 30. They can be downloaded in PDF format from the NNS Web site [click on 'download/order'at the top right of this page to access them].

These eight Springboard 6 lessons, like the previous 22 lessons, are designed to provide additional support for booster classes. The focus of these eight lessons is on problem solving: three of the lessons incorporate the use of calculators in problem solving.

Unlike the other 22 lessons, these lessons are 45-minute lessons. Supported with additional materials, and additional problems for the children to solve, each lesson could form the basis of a daily mathematics lesson. Alternatively, without the oral and mental starter, and with adjustments to the plenary, the lessons could fit in with the half-hour model of the other 22 lessons.

All the general principles of effective mathematics teaching apply to these eight lessons. Some elements are especially important for booster classes:

• a step-by-step approach;
  
• built-in consolidation and summaries;
  
• the use of direct questions and discussion about ideas and methods;
  
• the expression of the same mathematical ideas in a variety of ways;
  
• the use of demonstration by the teacher and the modelling of ideas and methods to help children to visualise the processes involved;
  
• the reinforcement of key mathematical vocabulary;
  
• the exemplification of ways to record methods and calculations, and to annotate and interpret diagrams, graphs and charts;
  
• the encouragement of children to articulate their mathematical thinking, orally and in writing.

	Lesson topic	Objectives	What children should be able to do by the end of the lesson
23	Using a calculator to solve problems 1	Use a calculator to solve problems, choosing the appropriate operation Explain and record the solution to a problem	Explain the solution to a problem, identify and record the sequence of operations, and use a calculator to find and check their solution
24	Using a calculator to solve problems 2	Use a calculator to solve problems, choosing the appropriate operation Explain and record the solution to a problem	Identify the information needed to solve a multi-step problem and the calculations required at each stage Record calculations when using a calculator
25	Using a calculator to solve problems 3	Use a calculator to solve problems choosing the appropriate operation Interpret the meaning of a calculator display in the context of a word problem	Select the required sequence of operations when using a calculator to solve a problem Interpret the calculator display correctly in the context of the problem
26	Problem solving 5	Solve mathematical problems or puzzles, recognise and explain patterns Explain methods and reasoning orally and in writing	Interpret and use symbols that represent missing numbers Begin to recognise why some methods are more efficient and use them to solve problems Know what to write in the ‘Show your working’ box
27	Problem solving 6	Solve mathematical problems or puzzles, recognise and explain patterns Explain methods and reasoning orally and in writing	Generate and extend sequences, identify and describe patterns Begin to recognise why some methods are more efficient and use them to solve problems Know what to write in the ‘Show your method’ box
28	Problem solving 7	Identify and use the properties of shapes to solve problems Explain methods and reasoning orally and in writing	Calculate the perimeters of compound shapes and explain the strategies they have used.
29	Problem solving 8	Solve simple problems involving ratio and proportion, and the identification of missing values in equations or calculations Explain methods and reasoning orally and in writing	Divide a length in a given ratio Use their knowledge and understanding of equality and place value to solve problems involving missing numbers and missing digits
30	Problem solving 9	Express part of a shape as a fraction Solve a problem by interpreting the scales on charts and graphs, and by extracting relevant information Explain methods and reasoning orally and in writing	Interpret the axes on bar charts and line graphs Select appropriate scales and extract the information needed to solve problems