Nursery / Pre-School - Maths - Hungry Hippos
This week, Nursery and Preschool engaged in an exciting, large-scale game of "Hungry Hippos" to support their mathematical development. The activity was adapted to meet different learning focuses, allowing all children to explore concepts of quantity and comparison through active play. Exploring Full and Empty For some children, the focus was on the concepts of "full" and "empty." As they moved around the classroom to collect the scattered balls, they closely observed how their baskets changed. They practiced identifying when their basket was "empty" at the start and the satisfying moment it became "full" once all the balls were gathered. Comparison and Equal Quantities Other children used the game to develop their understanding of comparison. Working in teams, they aimed to collect the "same" number of balls in each basket. This required great focus and teamwork as they counted their hauls and compared them to the other team's basket to see if the quantities were "equal" or "different." Matching and Sorting To add an extra challenge, some children focused on the properties of the balls as well as the quantity. They worked to ensure that both baskets were "identical" by matching the colors of the balls they collected. This encouraged high-level observation and sorting skills, as they had to find the exact color matches to make their sets the same. This energetic activity successfully combined physical movement with key mathematical language, helping the children visualize and describe the groups they were creating.
Reception- Maths- Make A Double
In their latest maths adventure, the Reception children dived into the concept of doubling with a hands-on, prehistoric twist. The classroom was buzzing with excitement as the children constructed a tall wall to hide a small group of dinosaurs on the other side. To sharpen their "subitising" skills—the ability to recognize a quantity without counting—the children were invited to take a "quick look" over the wall before the dinosaurs were hidden once more. After identifying the initial number of dinosaurs they saw, the challenge began: they had to calculate what that number would be if it were doubled. This playful activity turned an abstract mathematical operation into a visual game, helping the children understand that doubling is simply adding the same amount again to create a larger total.
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Year 2 Maths: Measuring in centimetres.
Measuring fever has hit Year 2 as we get to grips with centimetres! Our young mathematicians have been busy putting their ruler skills to the test, learning how to line up the '0' precisely to find the exact length of various classroom objects. There was a fantastic buzz in the room as the children compared their findings and practised using accurate mathematical language to describe their measurements. From pencils to glue sticks, nothing was safe from our rulers!
Year 4 Maths - Working Together during Lock Learners
Year 4 had an amazing time, during the Lock Learners activity Maths session. They had to work collaboratively as a team to unlock the different puzzles and get on to the next stage. There was a lot of surprises on the way! With grit and teamwork, Year 4 managed to pass the challenges and had lots of fun in the process!
Year 5 - Maths Escape Room!
Cracking the Code: Our Maths Escape Room Adventure! Last Thursday, our hall was transformed into a sea of mystery and logic as we welcomed Chris from Lock Learners for an unforgettable Maths Escape Room! The children were faced with a series of incredible pirate treasure chests, each protected by multiple locks and hidden compartments. Working in small teams, our young mathematicians had to combine their skills and knowledge to solve a trail of challenging puzzles. From deciphering codes to calculating complex coordinates, every solved sum brought them one step closer to the final "treasure" inside! It was a brilliant day of high-energy learning, proving that maths is not just about numbers on a page, but a vital tool for adventure. We were so proud of how well the children collaborated, persevered, and—most importantly—had a fantastic time putting their maths brains to the test!
Year 6: Maths - Escape Room
Year 6 really enjoyed the maths escape room they took part in! All five teams worked really well together and were able to crack all of the codes to the pirate themed mystery. It was a really fun hour using their problem solving and maths skills in a practical context.
Year 3 - Maths - Escape Room Fun
Shiver me timbers! Year 3 have turned into Math-Pirates! Last week, we had a very special visit from Lock Learners, who challenged our Year 3 crew to a high-seas adventure! To find the hidden treasure, our students had to use their finest "Pirate Maths" to crack cryptic clues and hunt for padlock codes.
Nursery/Pre-School - Maths - Matching Shadows
This week, the children in Nursery and Preschool have been busy working in our classroom "Vets" to help identify hurt animals that need their care. The children entered a special "X-ray room" where they were challenged to look at images of animal shadows and bones. This activity focused on their observation skills and their ability to recognize shapes and properties. The children looked closely at the silhouettes to spot identifying features, such as a long tail, big ears, or a sharp fin. Using these visual clues, the children then had to search the veterinary clinic to find the matching animal. This task encouraged the children to use mathematical language to describe what they could see and to use comparison skills to link the 2D shadow to the 3D toy animal. It was a wonderful way to develop their problem-solving skills and attention to detail while engaged in purposeful role-play.
Year 6: Maths - Percentages
This week year 6 are continuing to consolidate their knowledge of decimals, fractions and percentages.
Reception- Maths- 1 More
The reception classroom buzzed with excitement as the children embarked on a cosmic mathematical journey, focusing on the concept of "one more" for numbers up to 10. Using a vibrant space rocket as their primary tool, the students took turns placing a digit in the rocket's window and then determining the next number in the sequence to launch their craft. It was wonderful to see them move beyond simple counting; they seamlessly retrieved their prior knowledge from previous lessons, demonstrating a solid understanding of how numerical values grow. By physically writing "one more" to the window, the children didn't just recite numbers—they applied their logic to bridge the gap between abstract counting and concrete addition, proving they are ready for even greater mathematical adventures.
Year 1 - Maths Fluency
Buzzing with Fluency! Our Year 1 stars at Darwen St James’ have been busy bees today, sharpening their number skills! We are focusing on developing fluency by combining hands-on learning with digital practice. From tactile counters to high-tech hits, the progress is amazing to watch. ???? Today’s Math Toolkit: White Rose Fluency Bee: Building those vital number foundations through active, structured play. NumBots: Leveling up our mental recall and subtraction/addition speed on the laptops! ???? Watch out, world—these mathematicians are becoming faster and more confident by the second!
Maths Magic in Year 1
Maths Magic in Year 1 A huge thank you to all the families who joined our Year 1 Parents Workshop on Friday. It was wonderful to see so many of you engaging with all things maths as part of our NSPCC Number Day celebrations. Our young mathematicians had a fantastic time showing how they are developing fluency using some of our favourite tools: White Rose Fluency Bee: Hands-on resources building solid number foundations. NumBots: Leveling up recall skills on the laptops. Working together, at school and at home, is how we keep nurturing ambition in every child. #DarwenStJames #Year1 #NSPCCNumberDay #MathsFluency #WhiteRoseMaths #NumBots #ParentPartnership
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