Max Maths, Year 6, Learn together, How the number system developed

In "Max Maths, Year 6", students embark on an educational journey to understand the evolution of the number system. The chapter titled "How the number system developed" takes young learners through an exploration of numerical symbols from different cultures and languages. It begins by familiarising them with the number symbols from 1 to 10 in both Arabic and Hindi, providing a foundation for recognising the diversity in numerical representation. The focus is on the Hindu-Arabic numeral system, which is commonly used in the book and across many parts of the world today. A table is presented to visually compare the Hindu-Arabic numerals with their counterparts in other scripts, making it an engaging and interactive learning experience.

The chapter goes beyond just the Hindu-Arabic numerals and introduces students to how numbers are written in various scripts, including Western Arabic-Indic and Devanagari (Hindi). By using comparative tables, the text enables students to see the similarities and differences in number writing across four different scripts: Hindu-Arabic, Arabic, Bengali, and Cantonese. This comparison not only broadens the students' understanding of numerals but also highlights the rich tapestry of global number systems. Moreover, the narrative includes a personal touch as the student shares their experience of learning to write the numbers 1 to 10 in Cantonese, taught by a friend, adding a layer of peer-to-peer learning to the lesson.