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

Year 6 Negative Numbers 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 Negative Numbers covering using negative numbers in context, and calculating intervals across zero.

Support

• Q1: Reasoning - judge whether a character has compared two negative temperatures correctly. Sentence stems to structure the explanation.

• Q2: Reasoning - decide whether a statement about building floors and about temperature, is always, sometimes or never true. Options given.

• Q3: Problem Solving - find a height below sea level within a limit, and balances before and after a payment. Answer frames provided.

Core

• Q1: Reasoning - judge whether a character has compared temperatures correctly.

• Q2: Reasoning - decide whether statements about building floors and about temperature are always, sometimes or never true; both are sometimes true, so a case and a counter-case are needed.

• Q3: Problem Solving - find two heights either side of sea level from a given difference, and a starting balance after one payment.

Stretch

• Q1: Reasoning - test a general rule about comparing temperatures and find a counter-example that shows that it fails.

• Q2: Reasoning - decide whether statements about building floors and about temperature are always, sometimes or never true; both are never true, so the hidden error must be explained with an example.

• Q3: Problem Solving - find two heights from a difference and a relational condition, and a starting balance after two transactions.

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 Negative Numbers 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.