Max Maths, Year 4, Maths Challenge, Review of odd and even numbers

In a Maths Challenge for Year 4 students, the activity is designed to review and deepen their understanding of odd and even numbers. Students are provided with a set of digit cards numbered from 1 to 20 and instructed to sort these into two distinct piles: one labelled 'Even numbers' and the other 'Odd numbers'. This tactile approach helps reinforce the concept of categorising numbers based on their parity.

Once the numbers are sorted, the challenge progresses to practical application. Students are tasked with creating five examples for each of the following mathematical operations: adding two even numbers, subtracting an even number from an even number, adding two odd numbers, subtracting an odd number from an even number, adding an even number to an odd number, and subtracting an odd number from an odd number. After performing these operations, they are prompted to write down their observations about the results, particularly any patterns that emerge when dealing with sums and differences of even and odd numbers. This part of the activity encourages critical thinking and helps students to discover the underlying rules that govern the arithmetic of even and odd numbers, with a view to explaining why these rules hold true in every case.