At Smithdown Primary School we know that a high quality Mathematics education introduces children to concepts, skills and thinking strategies that are essential in everyday life and support learning across the curriculum. We follow a mastery approach to teaching Mathematics from Nursery to Year 6, which promotes fluency, as well as developing reasoning and problem solving skills.
We are working closely with our local NCETM Mathshub to embed the teaching of mastery. All our children have the opportunity to develop mastery through a wide range of learning opportunities. We utilise both independent and collaborative learning. At Smithdown we are also aware of the importance of learning outside the classroom and we are providing more and more opportunities for children to learn this way.
Concrete and pictorial resources are used to help children develop a strong foundation of concrete experience, which then allows them to think in the abstract. As a staff we ensure that all children have access to their age related learning and that the whole curriculum is used to develop and promote Mathematical skill. Cross-curricular work offers a creative way to develop and embed children’s knowledge, skills and understanding, while motivating them to learn through stimulating, interconnected topics and engage their imagination.
At Smithdown we strongly believe in supporting our pupils to become Mathematicians for life. We strive to teach a cohesive mathematical curriculum from EYFS to Year 6 to ensure this.
The following document details more information about the Maths curriculum at Smithdown.
We follow the National Curriculum guidance:
Our Whole School Overview (this shows how the programmes of study are taught progressively across the school):
Smithdown Primary School completed the Liverpool Counts Numeracy for Life Quality Mark in Spring 2018, achieving the GOLD standard. We want everyone in our school community to continue to be involved in promoting the core values of the Liverpool Counts Quality Mark. This year the pupils, in KS2, have received financial education training from MyBnk and Debtaware. We are also part of the Lifesavers Programme and many pupils are now saving for the future on a regular basis.
The quality mark has been developed by Liverpool Learning Partnership, and School Improvement Liverpool, to promote positive attitudes to mathematics and numeracy as an essential life skill.
‘The aim of the Quality mark is to tackle the negative attitudes in society towards numeracy and mathematics. We want to promote a culture where people understand the impact good numeracy skills and mathematics qualifications can have on the social, health and employment aspects of their lives. We also aim to support adults in schools to encourage pupils to make connections in their lessons to real life contexts and with other areas of their school experiences.’
Liverpool Learning Partnership & School Improvement Liverpool 2016
Mike Ellicock, Chief Executive of the National Numeracy Challenge has stressed the importance of challenging anyone who says, ‘I can’t do maths’ with ‘Yes, you can’. Liverpool is launching the challenge city wide and everyone can get involved.
Follow this link to learn more:
http://www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk/challenge-online
Be positive about maths. Don’t say things like, “I can’t do maths” or “I hated maths at school.” Your child might start to think like that themselves.
Point out the maths use in everyday life. Include your child in activities involving maths – such as using money, cooking and planning travel.
Praise your child for effort rather than talent – this shows them that by working hard they can always improve.
Useful Websites:
https://www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk/
http://www.familymathstoolkit.org.uk/
Multiplication Tables Support
http://www.multiplication.com/games/all-games
http://www.teachingtables.co.uk/
Homework Activities (You will need your child’s log in details)
Mathematical Challenges
https://nrich.maths.org/primary-lower
https://nrich.maths.org/primary-upper
Games
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/3-5-years/counting
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/5-7-years/counting
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/7-11-years/ordering-and-sequencing-numbers
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/hit-the-button
Financial Education
Today we tracked and measured the length of one shadow throughout the day. We noticed that our shadow was as its shorted midday and that it moved as the sun appeared to move. We explained in our books that it is the Earth spinning on its axis that creates the different times of day. 
We have been working very hard learning our 4 times tables. We have learnt to separate our multiples of 4 into equal groups. We have even been practicing the bus stop method for dividing.
This week we are counting up to 7 objects and making 6 and 7 using other numbers including 5.
We found patterns within each multiplication table and common multiples! 
A great morning exploring the relationship between multiples and three and multiples of six.
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This week we have practiced learning about 2-D shapes. We talked about shape names and what they look like, created police car pictures using 2-D shapes, found real 2-D shapes outside and problem solved by making shapes using string.
Our last parents maths workshop was all about measures and the children took part in a range of activities with their mums. Huge thanks to all parents for coming along each week and hope to see you for future workshops.
We spent the morning learning about the world of work, environments and salaries.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zf3r96f
The children have had fun counting objects and matching and recognising numbers to 5 over the last two weeks. The link above will take you to a game to play home to further support the children’s learning.
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Thanks so much to all parents who have attended our maths workshop to support our children’s learning both at school and at home. Our next session is this Tuesday 28th January at 2.15pm.
Working together to adjust our calculations, when adding 3 digit numbers.
We applied our right angle and directional understanding to some worded problems.
Year 3 had a practical maths lesson this week which involved them exploring and making 3D shapes. We discussed the properties of each shape and learned some new vocabulary such as, vertices, edges, curved surfaces and flat faces. The children spotted where these 3D shapes can be found in real life. A Pringles tin was a popular cylinder shape in our class 🤣
We ordered numbers 1-10 and found the correct numicon to match.
We used ice trays to make 3D ice shapes. We then added them to our winter tuft tray to have some messy fun!
This week in maths we are learning all about 3-D shapes. We have been learning some 3-D shape names and trying to find real life 3-D shapes in class and outdoors. We have also been building towers using 3-D shapes and seeing how many shapes we can use to make the tallest tower. We have also been problem solving about which shapes will be the best at the top of the tower!
We used our counting skills to make the correct amount of snowman buttons.
We took measurements of children from reception all the way to our eldest staff member! We then created a scatter graph of our results.
This week in maths we are learning all about flat shapes or 2-D shapes and creating pictures using a selection of shapes.
After our shape hunt, we created Christmas pictures using different shapes. We talked about all the different shapes we used.
Today in maths we named and described the features of shapes. We went on a shape hunt and found different shapes in our playground
This week in Mathematics, the children in class RJP have been focusing on sequencing. We explored the vocabulary, how ‘sequencing’ means to repeat a pattern. The children used paint to create an ‘ABBA’ pattern firstly, following the pattern, ‘red, green, red, green’. We then had lots of fun demonstrating the ‘ababab’ pattern using Christmas pictures, and designing a colourful paper-chain. To extend the learning, we explored different patterns, expanding on the number of picture cards, colours, and using shapes which have been learned previously. This helps the children problem solve sequencing in a fun way.
Why not keep up this learning at home, by asking the children to make repeated patterns using different objects.
Some incredible examples of extra work done at home. I have loved seeing how passionate we are about negative numbers, Olaudah Equiano and Roman numeral – keep it up, we love proudly displaying your work!
This week in maths we are finding out which items are heavy, light and the lightest and the heaviest.
23Year 4 spent this morning exploring Children in Need themed problems and discussing possible answers.
We have enjoyed working on fact families this week. We persevered and now we are doing so well. I am so proud of you all.
We are looking at groups of objects this week and which groups have more than and
It is great to see so many children saving regularly on our lifesavers bank. Our bank tellers (helped by Miss Caraher and Miss Wilson) are doing a fabulous job.
Today we compared 2 digit numbers using our tens and ones knowledge
We worked hard to place numbers on a number line. Why don’t you have a go at home on this game too.
https://mathsframe.co.uk/en/resources/resource/37/placing-numbers-on-a-number-line
We worked hard to partition 2 digit numbers today.
We have a super star in Year 3 who is working hard to add within 10.
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We compared multiples of ten today using the greater than, less than and equal to symbols today.
We worked hard to place tens numbers onto a number line. We used dienes to make our number line and recognised the value of each number. We challenged our partner to place the numbers in the correct place. Good job Year 2.
Today we built our own number lines. We used dienes to show the relationship between the tens and ones.
What a great start to maths this week. We have made groups of ten and worked on our counting in tens.
Today year 3 have started their place value topic by creating numbers with counters.
In Year 2 we have discovered Blooket and we can’t get enough! We’ve used it to test our times table knowledge this week (as well as lots more too.)
This week year 5 have compared Liverpool to the city of Manaus in Brazil and plotted data and different style graphs.
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We know the names and properties of so many 2D and 3D shapes now! Great work Year 2!
We had a fantastic day at the University of Liverpool on Friday. We took part in workshops related to Maths and Science…. including sitting in mini Planetarium!
We are munching our way threw one apple, two pears, three plums, four strawberries and five oranges ? 
In maths this week we are looking at which numbers up to 10 are odd and which are even.
We had lots of fun for our first lesson on Money today. We recognised the value of the coins and then made lots of different amounts. The children would love to help with the money when they are next shopping with their families ☺️
Year 3 used their factor and shape knowledge to find equal groups of shapes with 24 lollipop sticks. 3 octagons, 8 triangles, 4 hexagons and 6 squares could be made!
This week we are developing our composition skills by sorting items by size, colour and shape. If you would like to have a go at this at home we would love to see this. Can you sort out some items by colour or size?
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We looked at division using concrete and pictorial representations to help our understanding of the concept. We were more confident by the end of our work!
In maths this week we are learning about how some numbers can be made up of two equal parts. We are looking at arrangements of numbers to spot and make equal and unequal parts.
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We have created a pictogram of our favourite character from Supertato. We counted to see how many children liked Evil Pea and how many more liked Supertato.
This morning we have had lots of fun playing in our Asda supermarket. We have been writing shopping lists and paying for our food with money.
Thank you to our parents who came to our Reception maths parental workshop this week! We look at how to support your children with their shape knowledge at home. 
We have started our multiplication journey. We have been busy learning about repeated addition this week.
This week we are comparing numbers and groups of objects saying which group has more than, fewer than or the same amount of objects. We have been building walls for Humpty Dumpty and saying which wall has more, fewer or the same amount of bricks.
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#attendanceweek Calculating the mean average and presenting data in a bar chart. Points to improve: scale adjustment. #smithdownmaths
4KM celebrated attendance week by creating their own bar graphs using the attendance percentages of the week? #smithdownmath
4KM were using dienes and counters to work out many different ways in which hundreds can make 1000 #smithdownmaths ???
Year 3 had lots of fun today in maths adding and subtracting ten from a three digit number. A lot of the fun came from being able to write all over our tables! #smithdownmath
This week we have been busy using flexible partitioning #smithdownmaths
Year 2 were hard at work on Friday – ordering numbers #smithdownmaths
We used a range of different scales on our empty number lines. We had to place the numbers where we thought they would go. #smithdownmaths
On Friday Year 2 were hard at work estimating the position of numbers on a number line #smithdownmaths
Working hard partitioning 2 digit numbers in maths today #smithdownmaths
Subtracting multiples of ten in maths #smithdownmaths
So proud of these superstars adding in multiples of tens today #smithdownmaths
In maths this morning we started to estimate the position of multiples of ten on a number line. #smithdownmaths
Today in maths we put objects into groups of ten and then counted them. We recognised that ten ones made a ten too. #smithdownmaths
In last week’s maths we made arrangements of 4 and ordered numbers to 4 #smithdowneyfs #smithdownmaths
Matching arrangements of objects and pictures to the correct number #smithdowneyfs #smithdownmaths
In maths we are making arrangements of 1, 2 and 3 #smithdowneyfs #smithdownmaths
It’s been a busy afternoon looking at big and small. We worked hard sorting acorns. #smithdowneyfs #smithdownmaths @MasterTheCurric
In science today we put our ideas to the test. we either chose to either investigate if children with the longest femur could jump the highest or if the tallest children could jump the highest. We completed the post it challenge and made sure our investigation was fair. 
This week we are comparing amounts of objects up to 10 to see which groups have more, fewer or the same.
This week we have been learning about how numbers can be made
