Star Maths Starters
7 Apr 2008
Discover a fresh approach to mental maths with our free whiteboard resources
We are really excited to bring you two free interactive activities from the best-selling Star Maths Starters series, published by Scholastic. Linking to the Renewed Framework, these exciting games are ideal for refreshing and reinforcing children’s numeracy skills.
Dominoes (Y1): numbers and names
The aim of this activity is to match the domino numbers with the appropriate written number words. The game is played in the same way as standard dominoes, with two players (or teams) playing against each other. Each player (or team) is dealt four dominoes. The remaining dominoes are left in a central pot. A starter domino is automatically generated by the computer to begin the game, and the players then take turns to play. If a player is unable to place a domino, they should press ‘miss a go’ and take one from the central pot. The game continues until a player has placed all of their dominoes, and is declared the winner, or there are no more dominoes left in the pot. It is possible for a stalemate situation to occur, in which neither player is able to put down a domino and the pot is empty. In this case, the player with the fewest remaining dominoes is declared the winner.
Differentiation
Less confident: let the children use talk partners to discuss moves, which will help to boost confidence and affirm their decisions.
More confident: play ‘beat the teacher’, in which children pit themselves against an adult in the classroom.
Click here to open Dominoes in a new window
Star Maths Starters Year 1 and Year 2 Each 48-page full-colour book and accompanying CD-ROM provides an exciting bank of 30 fresh and lively maths starters linked to the Renewed Framework. Every starter includes a whole-class interactive activity and accompanying teachers’ notes. Click here to buy Star Maths Starters from our teachers’ shop
Bingo (Y2): multiply by 2, 5 and 10
Improve children’s quick recall of their 2-, 5- or 10- times tables with this fun interactive activity. Begin by providing each child or pair with a bingo card (these can be printed from the opening screen). Start the game and challenge the children to match the multiplication questions, displayed or called out, to the answers given on their grids. Explain to them that if the answer appears on their bingo grid, they should mark it off. If a child or pair calls House, press the ‘check grid’ button to pause the game and call up the checking grid, which includes all the number sentences that have been called. If they are correct, press the ‘winner’ button to hear an appropriate fanfare.
Differentiation
Less confident: support the children with a 2-, 5- or 10-times table grid.
More confident: increase the number of answers required by modifying the bingo cards.
Click here to open Bingo in a new window
These maths resources were made in association with Vivid Interactive (www.vividinteractive.co.uk )
