Maths
Multiplication and Division in Year 4
In Year 4, we are helping children develop confidence and fluency in multiplication and division, vital skills that support their broader understanding of mathematics. This term, we will focus on building a deep understanding of how these operations work and how they relate to each other, in line with the Curriculum for Wales 2022 (CfW22).
Our approach encourages children to explore the practical applications of multiplication and division, fostering problem-solving skills and mathematical reasoning. Here’s what we’ll be covering:
Key Learning Areas:
Understanding Multiplication and Division:
- Recognising multiplication as repeated addition and division as sharing or grouping.
- Developing mental strategies for quick recall of multiplication and division facts up to 12 × 12.
Times Tables:
- Regular practice to improve fluency and confidence.
- Using patterns and relationships between tables (e.g., 3× and 6× tables) to support learning.
Using Arrays and Models:
- Visual representations, such as arrays, bar models, and number lines, to explain and solve problems.
- Exploring how multiplication and division are inverse operations.
Problem-Solving and Real-Life Applications:
- Applying skills to solve word problems, including those involving money and measures.
- Exploring contexts such as scaling up recipes or sharing items equally.
How You Can Support at Home:
- Practice Times Tables: Encourage regular practice with times tables through games, songs, or apps.
- Talk About Maths in Everyday Life: Use multiplication and division in practical situations, such as working out totals while shopping or sharing food equally.
- Explore Patterns Together: Discuss how knowing one fact (e.g., 5 × 6 = 30) helps solve others (e.g., 30 ÷ 5 = 6).
This topic not only strengthens essential mathematical skills but also helps children develop resilience and perseverance as they tackle new challenges. By linking learning to real-world scenarios, we aim to make maths engaging, relevant, and meaningful for every child.
Understanding Area in Year 4
This term, our Year 4 class will be exploring the concept of area, an important part of mathematics that helps children develop their spatial awareness and problem-solving skills. Aligned with the Curriculum for Wales 2022 (CfW22), our focus will be on helping children understand what area means and how to measure it, using practical and engaging activities.
Key Learning Areas:
What is Area?
- Understanding area as the amount of space a surface takes up.
- Recognising the difference between area and other measurements like length and perimeter.
Measuring Area:
- Counting square units (e.g., squares on a grid) to measure the area of simple shapes.
- Comparing and ordering areas of different objects or spaces.
Calculating Area of Rectangles:
- Using multiplication (length × width) to calculate the area of rectangles and squares.
- Understanding the relationship between multiplication and area.
Problem-Solving and Practical Applications:
- Solving real-life problems involving area, such as designing a classroom layout or planning a garden.
- Exploring irregular shapes by estimating and combining areas of smaller parts.
How You Can Support at Home:
- Talk About Area in Everyday Life: Look for opportunities to discuss area in practical situations, like comparing the size of different rooms or tablecloths.
- Get Hands-On: Use squared paper, LEGO bricks, or tiles to measure and calculate the area of objects at home.
- Encourage Estimation: Challenge your child to estimate the area of everyday items, then measure to see how close they were.
Through this topic, we aim to help children understand how area is used in the world around them and develop the skills to tackle increasingly complex mathematical challenges. By combining hands-on learning with problem-solving activities, we’re making maths fun, engaging, and relevant for every child.
We appreciate your support in making this learning journey a success! 😊
Let’s work together to make maths a success! 😊