Percentages - Percentages of an amount (focus on 50, 25, 10 and 1 percent only) - Starter

In a Year 6 mathematics session, students delve into the concept of percentages, focusing specifically on calculating 50%, 25%, 10%, and 1% of amounts. The session begins with a 'Fluent in Four' revision exercise, which aims to consolidate students' understanding through a series of mathematical sentences they must complete. These exercises include finding the results of adding, subtracting, and comparing fractions and percentages, such as determining what 13 out of 33, or 13/33, is equal to, or subtracting 9/16 from another number. The problems are presented in a way that encourages students to apply their knowledge of fractions and percentages to find the solutions.

The practical application of mathematical concepts is further explored with activities that involve measuring and scaling. Students are tasked with using dot paper to enlarge a given shape to double its original size, and then measure and compare the perimeters of both the original and enlarged shapes, noting the changes and understanding the reasons behind them. Additionally, they work with real-life scenarios, such as calculating the volume of water in two different containers, labelled A and B, with varying capacities and understanding how to convert litres to millilitres. Another practical problem involves dividing 11 pizzas equally among 12 friends, which requires the students to express their answer as a decimal to three decimal places, thereby strengthening their skills in division and decimal representation. These activities are designed to enhance the pupils' mathematical fluency, reasoning, and problem-solving skills in a context that relates to their everyday experiences.