Term 3 Week 5

This Week in Owls Class – Maths, Maths and More Maths!

This week has been all about maths in Owls Class, and the children have been fully immersed from the very start.

We began the week by learning how to multiply a three digit number by a one digit number. Before moving anywhere near a written method, the children explored this concept using concrete resources. Using practical equipment, they represented numbers, grouped them carefully and physically built the calculations. This hands on approach helped the children really understand what was happening to the numbers, rather than just following steps.

Once the children were confident with the practical side, we moved on to recording their thinking using written and formal methods in their books. The transition from concrete resources to formal calculations was smooth and purposeful, and the children showed growing confidence and accuracy as the week progressed. The photographs alongside this blog show this learning journey clearly, from practical exploration to structured written work.

This strong start to the week set us up perfectly for Number Day, which we celebrated with a morning full of rich mathematical thinking and problem solving.

Maths – Number Day Fun!

We kicked off Number Day with a brilliant morning of maths, starting with the first two activities from the NSPCC Number Day resources. The classroom was buzzing from the moment we began.

Our first activity introduced the children to the game Fifteen. Working in pairs, the children took turns choosing number cards and had to think carefully about how different combinations could be added together to make 15. What started as a simple game quickly turned into some impressive mathematical thinking. Children were predicting moves, spotting patterns, blocking their partner’s choices and explaining their reasoning using clear mathematical language. It was fantastic to see them so engaged, working collaboratively and really thinking like mathematicians.

We then moved on to exploring magic squares. The children were fascinated by the idea that numbers could be arranged in a grid where every row, column and diagonal added up to the same total. There was a real sense of excitement as they tested different combinations, checked totals and began to notice patterns. Some children challenged themselves to find more than one solution, while others enjoyed explaining why certain numbers had to go in specific places.

Throughout the morning, the children showed excellent perseverance, teamwork and curiosity. They were confident to have a go, learn from mistakes and share their thinking with others. Most importantly, they had a fantastic time and loved seeing how maths can be playful, challenging and full of surprises.

A brilliant start to Number Day and a reminder that maths really can be magical. ✨

Alongside our maths learning, we also took part in the NSPCC Rocks Challenge, and Owls Class have something to be very proud of. We were the highest scoring class in the whole school, which is an incredible achievement. The children showed fantastic commitment, enthusiasm and teamwork throughout the challenge, and they were genuinely proud of the effort they put in. It was wonderful to see them encouraging one another and celebrating their success together. Well done, Owls Class.

Overall, it has been a fantastic week of learning in Owls Class. The children have shown confidence, determination and a real enthusiasm for maths, whether working practically with resources, tackling written methods or rising to challenges like Number Day and the NSPCC Rocks Challenge. They should be extremely proud of everything they have achieved this week, and so should we. We are looking forward to building on this learning next week as we continue to challenge ourselves and enjoy our maths journey together.