Max Maths, Year 6, Learn together, Number sequences (2)

In the 'Max Maths' curriculum for Year 6, students are introduced to the concept of number sequences through an engaging lesson. In this particular lesson, they explore a sequence where the number of dots increases by one in both the horizontal and vertical directions at each step. The students learn to identify patterns and predict future steps in the sequence. For instance, at Step 5, there are 5 dots across and 5 dots down, making it easy for them to deduce that Step 6 will have 6 dots in each direction. Multiplying these two numbers together, they can calculate that there will be a total of 36 dots at Step 6.

Further into the lesson, the concept of a 'function machine' is introduced, where students are taught to find the rule that governs the input and output of numbers. Through examining a series of numbers, they discover that each output is three times the input. This discovery leads them to conclude that the rule of the function machine is to 'multiply by 3'. To apply this rule, they are challenged with an input of 20, which, when processed through the machine, gets multiplied by 3 to produce an output of 60. This lesson reinforces multiplication skills and helps students understand and apply functions to number sequences. They are then directed to continue their learning by referring to workbook pages 32 to 33 for additional practice and reinforcement of the concepts covered.