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

Year 6 Mental Calculations and Estimation 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 Calculations and Estimation covering using estimation to check answers to calculations and determine, in the context of a problem, an appropriate degree of accuracy, and performing mental calculations, including with mixed operations and large numbers.

Support

• Q1: Reasoning – explain whether a character needed to check a short multiplication, with useful facts.

• Q2: Reasoning – decide which of two estimates is more useful for calculations, with useful facts.

• Q3: Problem Solving – write calculations that meet two conditions and are quicker to work out mentally than with a formal written method.

Core

• Q1: Reasoning – explain whether a character needed to check a short multiplication.

• Q2: Reasoning – decide which of two estimates is more useful for calculations.

• Q3: Problem Solving – write calculations that meet three conditions and are quicker to work out mentally than with a formal written method.

Stretch

• Q1: Reasoning – explain whether a character needed to check a long multiplication.

• Q2: Reasoning – decide which of two estimates is more useful for word problems; say if the answer is greater or less.

• Q3: Problem Solving – write calculations that meet four conditions and are quicker to work out mentally than with a formal written method.

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 Calculations and Estimation 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.