This week we have been exploring missing box questions in our maths lessons. At the moment, we are just looking at ones involving addition and have seen how sometimes the the = sign moves in a number sentence.
(e.g 3+6=9 and 9=3+6). We thought about the = being the middle of a see-saw, and how so long as both sides have the same amount in total it will be a correct number sentence.
With this in mind, we began thinking about how to find a missing number in a question like this...
As you can see, we have been using Numicon shapes to help us with this in class.
We asked "how many more would you need on this side (4+?) to make it the same as this side (7)?"
In this case, the children could visualise that you would need another 3 with the existing 4 to make it up to 7 and could check by adding the Numicon piece they thought it was to 4 and seeing if it made the right shape.
If you wanted to try these at home, you could just as easily use cubes, dried pasta shells or anything you have in the house. For example...
(It was fun hiding the answer under the cup so the children could check!)
I would ask that if you choose do these at home you try to use objects of some kind alongside the number sentence to start with (as in the pictures) and that you show the = sign in different positions, not always 'before the answer.' Also, please keep totals within 20 for now.
If you do any at home, please do comment - or better yet, bring in a photo!
Have a lovely weekend :)
