What's included in the Mental Strategies Reasoning and Problem Solving resource and why is it useful?

Year 5 Mental Strategies Reasoning and Problem Solving is a set of 3 worksheets designed to be used during the independent reasoning and problem solving section of your maths lesson. Once children are secure in varied fluency, they are ready for these worksheets.

Each set has been carefully designed to help you meet each child where they are at to ensure progress for every child, not just the average child. The content includes 3 levels of content (Support, Core and Stretch) for Mental Strategies covering adding and subtracting numbers mentally with increasingly large numbers.

Support

• Q1: Reasoning – using a mental strategy to add and subtract 999; the method is shown in full.

• Q2: Reasoning - adding and subtracting a two-part partition correctly; a part-whole model is given.

• Q3: Problem Solving - finding a starting number when 999 is added; the method and a narrow range for the answer are given.

Core

• Q1: Reasoning – using a mental strategy for adjustment when adding or subtracting a number close to a multiple of 1,000.

• Q2: Reasoning - adding and subtracting a three-part partition; a part-whole model is given.

• Q3: Problem Solving - finding a starting number when 990 is added or subtracted; a range for the answer is given and a rule.

Stretch

• Q1: Reasoning – using a mental strategy for adjustment when adding and subtracting more than 1.

• Q2: Reasoning - adding and subtracting a three-part partition; a part-whole model is given; an exchange required.

• Q3: Problem Solving - finding a starting number when a multiple of 1,000 is added or subtracted; a range for the answer is given and a rule.

How do our reasoning and problem solving resources work?

Our reasoning and problem solving resources are not just about differentiation, but differentiation in an adaptive way. They work best alongside our teaching PowerPoints, which walk you through the whole lesson along with other lesson resources that you can find on our Mental Strategies lesson page.

• After completing the Varied Fluency worksheet, children are now ready for their Reasoning and Problem Solving work.

• Most children will use the Core sheet for their Reasoning and Problem Solving practice.

• Some children may need the Support sheet. This has been included to give specific children the additional support required to develop their reasoning and problem solving skills and access the core content.

• Some children may need additional challenge; the Stretch sheet will deepen their understanding of the core content.

• Within the Teaching PowerPoint, a question similar to what is presented in question 1 on these sheets is given, alongside sentence stems. This can be used to lead discussion on how to solve question 1 and give all children ideas on what reasoning can be used, via oracy, to tackle the question.

Adaptive Maths Resources are not a separate lower-attainment route. They provide temporary and responsive support to help pupils access the same intended learning.

This resource is designed to align to White Rose Maths version 3. Classroom Secrets Limited is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or in any way connected to White Rose Education Limited. Our products are original to Classroom Secrets Limited and any reference to White Rose Maths is solely for the purpose of indicating compatibility and does not imply any association with White Rose Education.