Halve numbers

The ArithmeKit 222 from Buzzard Publishing, part of the CanDoMaths series, is a comprehensive resource designed to help students learn and practice the concept of halving numbers. The activities within the kit encourage learners to create their own matching pairs by finding the missing halves of given numbers. For example, to halve the number 14, the answer would be 7, and similarly, halving 22 results in 11. The exercises include a variety of numbers, ranging from smaller digits like halving 4 to get 2, to larger numbers such as halving 54 to find 27. The kit also prompts students to explore what happens when they halve numbers with a 2 in the ones column, fostering observation and pattern recognition skills.

Another aspect of the ArithmeKit 222 challenges students to address common misconceptions about halving, such as the idea that odd numbers cannot be halved. Through the use of halving models and the inclusion of digits in specific boxes, students are invited to solve problems in multiple ways, using all digits from 0 to 9 at least once. They are also encouraged to create their own missing digit problems and to convince a fictional character, Colin, that halving a number always results in a smaller answer. The kit provides a structured approach to understanding halving, with clear examples like halving 46 to get 23, halving 48 to obtain 24, and halving 34 to arrive at 17, thereby reinforcing the concept through repetition and varied practice.