Number & Place Value

'Get the Buzz! Problem Solving for Key Stage 2' is a comprehensive resource designed to enhance the problem-solving skills of primary school students. The book, authored by Liz Hopkins, covers a range of mathematical concepts through engaging activities. In 'Bug Swap', students are challenged to determine the number of moves required to swap the positions of coloured bugs using slides and jumps. This activity not only hones their strategic thinking but also introduces them to patterns and sequences. The complexity of the problem varies as students experiment with different numbers of bugs, encouraging them to predict and extend the pattern to a larger set.

Another activity, 'More Squares', invites students to explore the properties of numbers within a 2 by 2 square on a hundred square grid. By multiplying diagonal pairs of numbers, students discover consistent patterns and are prompted to consider if the patterns hold true for other shaped grids, such as 2 by 3 rectangles. This task not only reinforces multiplication skills but also encourages students to observe mathematical relationships and test their validity. Throughout the book, activities such as these are designed to foster a deeper understanding of number and place value, as well as to develop key mathematical skills such as reasoning, time management, and conversion.