Place value - Rounding to the nearest 10 - Planning

In the initial stages of a Year 5 mathematics lesson on place value, the focus is on rounding numbers to the nearest 10. The class begins with a small step starter activity that encourages students to recall what they've previously learned about rounding. The lesson's key vocabulary includes terms such as 'round up', 'round down', 'place value', 'thousands', 'hundreds', 'tens', and 'ones'. Resources such as a counting stick and number line are employed, and students are encouraged to visit the website for vocabulary cards and definitions. The lesson starts with a discussion on what constitutes a multiple of 10 and progresses to practical activities using number lines to visualise and understand the rounding process. A variety of 2-digit numbers are explored first, with an eventual move to 3-digit numbers.

Students are taught that when rounding, numbers ending in 5 or higher are rounded up, while those ending in 4 or lower are rounded down. This concept is reinforced through rhymes and sayings like "5 or more rise the score, 4 or less give it a rest", making the lesson engaging and memorable. The lesson includes partner work and independent activities with differentiated worksheets that cater to varying levels of understanding. In the plenary, students reflect on their learning, discussing the skills they used or found challenging, and the support that helped them during the lesson. The lesson aims to ensure that students are able to round numbers to the nearest 10 confidently, whether they are working towards the expected level or seeking greater depth in their understanding of place value and rounding.