Multiplication and division - Odd and even numbers - Presentation

In a series of engaging activities, students delve into the concepts of odd and even numbers within the context of multiplication and division. The lesson prompts students to give examples of odd and even numbers and to use counters to physically represent numbers, dividing them into two equal groups to determine their parity. This hands-on approach is designed to help students visually and practically understand the difference between odd and even numbers. They are encouraged to look for patterns and sort numbers into odd or even categories, using a table to organise their findings and enhance their reasoning skills.

Further activities challenge students to identify and correct mistakes, such as wrongly categorised numbers in a table, and to use concrete or pictorial methods to demonstrate why a statement like "10 is an odd number" is false. Students are also asked to explore the outcomes of adding odd and even numbers together, debunking misconceptions such as the incorrect belief that the sum of two odd numbers is odd. By engaging in these tasks, students not only practice sorting and categorising but also develop their reasoning abilities by explaining their answers and proving their understanding using various representations.