Algebra, factors and multiplication madness!

Today, at Maths Club, our mathematicians worked hard to beat their most recent times table score.  There is excellent progress being made, for each of the children at Maths Club, in the rapid recall of their times tables.  Willow now has the highest score in the school, completing 82% of the grid in less than 4 minutes - there are a couple of others who are hot on her heels (Ollie/Dylan)! 

We then had a look at some algebraic equations.  We learned that it doesn't matter what the letter is, it just represents an unknown quantity which can be found by manipulating the numbers in the equation.

Finally, we were posed with a problem (which Mrs Comer was given at university, a long time ago!)  The problem was as follows:

Find a number with exactly 36 factors.

The strategies we chose to use were typically trial and error, narrowing our estimates each time.  This problem requires a lot of perseverance!  

We're going to re-visit this next week to identify the progress made.

Mathematician of the week was Professor Pethard!  Dylan could quickly explain how to solve simple algebraic equations.

 

Poetry at the top end of the school

As you will see, from the Year 5 & 6 blog, children in the upper part of the school are being inspired to write war-themed poetry. 

The following is Oscar's fantastic piece of homework:

The trenches are dirty

The trenches are wet

The trenches are our homes

Covering our silhouette.

Violets are blue

Poppies are red -

Representing the blood

that we shed;

We wear our poppies

with love and respect

We will never forget

We must never forget.

Leaving our families

Holding hands with our future;

Bravely marching, we the British warriors

We will never forget

We must never forget.

The oceans of poppies,

Blood and sweat

We must never forget

Please don't forget.

To commemorate Remembrance Day we will be having a visitor from the British Legion in to talk in assembly.  Oscar will perform his poem to the school at this time.

Poetry in Years 3 & 4

I would like to share a poem written by Eleanor in Year 3. 

The Magic Box

I will put in the box

Nice dreams bursting and flowing with happiness,

Secret memories that only I know about

And all the love of the world.

I will put in the box

The sound of fire birds chirping,

A magic stone that transports you to another land.

And tears of sadness from a miserable, poor county.

I will put in the box

Calmness from the calmest person I know,

The smell of the sweetest rose perfume that mums use,

And the sound of the harmless, gentle rain.

I will put in the box

God the father, the son and the holy spirit,

Candyfloss trees and a bright blue river with a chocolate one next to it.

I will love my box forever.

By Eleanor

Keep up the super work Eleanor!

Maths Club

Some excellent achievements at Maths Club this week!  Chloe achieved her blue target card for answering over 50% of her times table grid correctly in less than 4 minutes.  Dylan and Henry are both making terrific progress with their times tables and Harry was mathematican of the week for solving the problem below in the fewest moves.

There are two green frogs and two brown toads:

 

A frog or toad can jump over one other creature onto an empty lilypad or it can slide onto an empty lilypad which is immediately next to it.  Only one creature, at a time, is allowed on each lilypad.

Now, the idea is for the frogs and toads to change places.  So, the frogs will end up on the side where the toads started and the toads will end up where the frogs began.

The challenge is to do this in as few slides and jumps as possible. (We started by using people and then used a colour code in our books).

What's the fewest moves you can complete the challenge in?

Mental Maths

Amongst improvements in Writing, Science and ICT this year, we are also working to improve pupils' mental maths.  This work has included the use of times table grids to encourage children to rapidly recall their times tables within 4 minutes.  A record of their progress is maintained in the back of their homework books. 

In addition there are 3 target cards children can aim for:

Yellow:  For achieving 2x, 5x and 10x tables within 4 minutes
Blue:  For achieving over 50% of the grid within 4 minutes
Green:  For achieving 100% of the grid within 4 minutes

After this, we will see who can complete the grid in the quickest time possible!

Already this term, many children have achieved their yellow targets.  A smaller group have achieved their blue target and we are still waiting for the first person to complete the grid within 4 minutes in order to achieve their green target - Dylan is currently the closest!  Watch this space to see the progress being made with mental maths.

Well done to Immy for achieving her yellow target this week!

Keep up the great work!