What's included in the Order of Operations Reasoning and Problem Solving resource and why is it useful?

Year 6 Order of Operations 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 Order of Operations covering performing mental calculations, including with mixed operations and large numbers, and using their knowledge of the order of operations to carry out calculations involving the four operations.

Support

• Q1: Reasoning – explain whether a character has correctly worked out a calculation with two operations, where one is higher priority according to BIDMAS. Focus on order of operations, no requirement to solve calculation.

• Q2: Reasoning – explain the mistake made when finding a missing number in a calculation involving addition and multiplication or addition and subtraction.

• Q3: Problem Solving – write calculations with three given digits and two operations to satisfy two criteria.

Core

• Q1: Reasoning – explain whether a character has correctly worked out a calculation with three operations, where one is higher priority and the others are of equal priority according to BIDMAS. Focus on order of operations, no requirement to solve calculation.

• Q2: Reasoning – explain the mistake made when finding a missing number in a calculation involving brackets and one other operation.

• Q3: Problem Solving – write calculations with three given digits and two operations chosen from three to satisfy three criteria.

Stretch

• Q1: Reasoning – explain whether a character has correctly worked out a calculation with multiple operations, including ones of same priority according to BIDMAS. Focus on order of operations and then solve calculation.

• Q2: Reasoning – explain the mistake made when finding a missing number in a calculation involving brackets and two other operations.

• Q3: Problem Solving - write calculations with three given digits and two operations chosen from three to satisfy four criteria.

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 Order of Operations 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.