Place value - Negative numbers 2 - Starter

In this maths session for Year 4 students, the concept of negative numbers is explored through a series of engaging activities. The lesson kicks off with a 'Fluent in Four' revision task that challenges the children to solve multiplication problems, such as finding the missing number in the equation 18 = ____ × 6 and calculating the product of 4 × 2 multiplied by 5. As the lesson progresses, the children are tasked with counting back from a given number five times, which introduces them to the concept of negative numbers and how to navigate them on a number line.

The lesson continues with practical applications of division and multiplication. Students discover how to evenly distribute 96 monkeys across 8 enclosures by performing the calculation 96 ÷ 8. Additionally, they learn to find a fraction of a number using a bar model and circles, specifically calculating 4/5 of 25. The session also includes a real-world application where the children must determine the total number of players in a hockey tournament, with four teams having 8 players each. By multiplying 4 by 8, they conclude how many people are playing altogether. These exercises not only reinforce multiplication and division skills but also introduce fractions and provide a foundation for understanding negative numbers.