Like our other counting number resources this one is designed to help young children get to grips with number recognition and aspects of counting. We have a series of fun ‘superhero’ images which illustrate the numbers from 0 to 10. As usual, we have a built-in a break between the fifth and sixth image to better support counting and understanding. You can use this maths resource as a poster, or as a table activity. If you cut the pages into separate strips the children can sort, count and order them. If you remove the digit labels on the end of each strip, the children can… arrange the lines of superheroes in order, match them with counters, peg them onto a number line, or re-label them.

Here’s a ‘friendly’ way to count on Monster. This clean, simple, number resource is designed to enable young children to develop their understanding of number recognition and counting. It can be used as a display poster, desktop counting resource or a direct counting activity. This simple visual number line from mathsticks.com offers a wealth of maths activities and/or assessment opportunities. Combine the three pages to make one tall poster showing numbers from zero to 10. Cut each page into horizontal strips so children can sort or count the monster-lines. Children can match a quantity of counters to a monster-line. Cut away the digit labels and have the children put the monster-lines in order. Cut away the digit labels and ask the children to re-label the monster-lines. The monster-lines have been designed with a visual break after the fifth one. This makes number combinations easy to recognise: 6 is 5 and 1; 7 is 5 and 2; 8 is 5 and 3; etc

A very enjoyable two person game to help children reinforce their knowledge of times tables, Particularly focused on 6x, 7x, 8x and 9x tables.File includes game instructions but more info available at http://www.mathsticks.com/resource/1109/hard-times Please comment on whether or not you find this useful.

A set of 20 multi-step written problems, designed to offer appropriate challenge for Y2 and Y3 children. An excellent activity when children work together on mini whiteboards. The focus is on 'mathematical talk' and the decisions the children make. Print the file and cut into strips - each containing one problem. Give each child a slip, and ask them to take turns to read their problem and discuss how it could be attacked. Encourage them to explain what mathematical functions they think they need in order to solve the problem, and to decide on the order of those functions.

Gold, Silver and Bronze 'Maths Champion&' medals - perfect as reward stickers, either for a wall display; or for children to wear, stick in their books or take home.

This Pirate-themed addition game was designed to give young children plenty of opportunities to reason mathematically and add numbers. The players have a Pirate game board between them and a pile of 10 coloured counters each. They take it in turn to roll three dice. The player who rolled now works out the sum of the three numbers and looks for this number on the board. If the number is available he/she can cover it with one of their own counters. Play passes to the next player who does the same. This is repeated until one person has managed to use all 10 of his/her counters… or until the board is full. Where’s the learning? The mathematical learning is in the repeated addition and (importantly) in the sharing of strategies. See the mathsticks site for fuller information about the pedagogical teaching behind this activity.

The pdf file contains three grids of numbers. The children have to find a line of three numbers that total 15. Numbers are not used twice, and correct answers will form a symmetrical pattern. If the sheets are laminated the children can work together with white-board pens. The file includes three grids and answers. For further details see http://www.mathsticks.com/resource/1110/make-15

‘Top Trumps’ meets Times Tables in this Buildings-themed game. The download contains instructions and 27 different cards. Each card features four Times Tables calculations. Children play, using normal Top Trump rules, by choosing a calculation - the larger product wins the cards. How many different buildings can you collect?

This fun game uses ‘Top Trumps’ style cards to enable children to practice addition and multiplication strategies while reinforcing correct mathematical vocabulary. There are 36 cards; each featuring an image of a mathsticks figure and two mathematical statements. The first statement on each card is an addition and the other a multiplication. While playing a Top Trumps type game, the children challenge each other as to whose card displays the higher value – product or sum! However, the educational value doesn’t end there… The statements offer four different mathematical elements (or categories): product sum factors addends This game is ideal for Key Stage 2 children who have a reasonable understanding of multiplication facts and addition strategies. The download features extensive teacher notes and a set of 36 printable cards.

This is an engaging problem solving activity for children aged 6-8. This resource consists of a square ‘box’ template and an image of a number of domino. Children need to work with a set of real dominoes and find the ones in the images. First, they can match the real dominoes to the illustrations on the right hand side of the sheet. Next, they need to re-arrange the four dominoes on the square template so that the spots on each side** total a given number**. Working with the activity will involve the children in using their calculation skills as well as thinking carefully about where (and how) the dominoes are best placed. Once correctly placed in the square all four sides should total the given number. The downloadable materials offer different problems where the total is 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. The final section consists of six separate pages (twelve different problems) where the total is 10.

Tens Frames and Number Bonds materials The resource consists of images of tens-frames using cars rather than counters. Each image depicts a set of cars in a car park. The arrangement of the vehicles creates a pair of numbers which total 10. A set of Number Sentence cards can be used so the children can label the tens-frames. The resource also includes a blank ‘car park’ tens-frame and associated images of cars so children can create their own combinations and problems.

This Roman Numerals activity gives children the chance to focus on the different letters used by the Roman’s to create numbers. The activity consists of a series of word labels. Each word contains letters that make specific numbers. For example, in the word ‘drive’, the letters DIV would make the number 504: D R IV E The challenge is for the children to find the Roman number “hidden” in each of the words, and to put the words in order. The download contains four different sets of 6 word cards, instructions and answers.

Here’s a series of monster-themed games that help children to practice addition or multiplication facts. There are three games available: one designed to practice the addition of three numbers; one focused on multiples to 6×6; one focused on multiples to 10×6. Each game has the same rules and a similar playing board. The games can be played with dice, or the included spinners. This is a 10-page download from mathsticks.com

A creative way to involve your children in problem solving while using addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Monster Towers uses a fun, monster-themed, game-board, 3 dice and a collection of counters. The game is to build towers by creating calculations which match the Monster's numbers. This is an eight page download with detailed playing instructions and 4 different playing boards (you will need your own counters, dice and children).

What’s a really fun way to match a quantity to its numeral? … Do it with penguins! This download features a set of o-10 numbered penguins and a set of 0-10 eggs. Match the number to the quantity. What makes it special is the choice of ‘eggs’. Some are set out as a pattern to aid recognition (subitising), while another set consists of random patterns to focus on counting. The penguins are special too… they feature different colours to indicate odd or even numbers. This activity works well alongside numicon resources, and can be used as a teaching activity or a game. We also include a matching penguin numberline, too.

This 23-page eBook contains two, engaging, colourful multiplication games. Each is focused on helping children to develop both automaticity and fluency with their Times Tables facts from 2x upto 12x. The first game focuses primarily on understanding and using multiplication facts. The second game draws out connections between families of facts to further support fluency and understanding. Each game is perfect for independent paired work.

Here’s a set of 40  ‘Challenge on Arrival’ cards with a focus on multiplication. The resource consists of a series of different  challenge ‘cards’ suitable for children in Key-Stage 2. The cards come in sets of 4, each set having different multiplication calculations. When the children arrive in the classroom in the morning (or at the start of a maths session) its useful to make good use of that time. Some teachers use Challenge on Arrival task, (sometimes called “Bell Work”). These are short, self contained tasks, maths challenges which the children complete as soon as they arrive. These challenges are useful since they enable children to put themselves quickly into a mathematical frame of mind from the very start of the session. They can also provide assessment opportunities and initial ‘talking points’ once the session starts. Some maths challenges rely on repetition, and can be uninteresting. The mathsticks Challenges are different. With our maths challenges… marking is negligible explaining what to do is simple the tasks are varied and interesting so each day is different there are enough challenges to cater for different abilities The 10 pages of Challenges each feature a set of Multiplication challenge grids. Each page is divided into 4 ‘cards’ and each card contains an incomplete 4-column grid. The children complete each grid (on their own or with a partner). The grids are designed so that as well as calculating the children have to use their reasoning skills. For example, in most grids a number of the ‘Header’ values are missing and the children will have to use their knowledge of multiplication and division facts to complete these. On each grid there are five selected numbers, these need to be transferred to the final column and the last challenge is to sum all of these numbers. This final addition calculation produces a Check Number. For ease of marking, this is the only number needed to determine if specific calculations are correct. The download comes with detailed teaching points and an answer key.

This collection of Number Squares has been designed to support children’s understanding of number order and place value. The materials use three strategies to do this. Almost every teacher uses a 100 Square to support their children’s understanding of number. But how do you know that your children have a clear understanding of ‘number’ and are not simply regurgitating numerals in order? Firstly - One very effective way is to use different sized number squares. This resource features eight different 5 x 5 grids and eight 6 x 6 grids. There are missing numbers and the children have to complete the grids, but only in the white spaces! This helps them to focus on the patterns within the numbers rather than just running mindlessly through the counting numbers… filling squares in without really thinking, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9… Working with different number squares mean children will discover new patterns (or see old patterns in new ways) and develop a better sense of number order. This leads directly to better understanding and improved fluencey. Secondly - Working with larger grids with the numbers in ‘standard’ order The resource contains eight different 10 x 10 grids with the number running in the ‘usual’ left-right formation. Again, only the white spaces need to be filled in - leading the children to focus directly on the number sequences rather. Thirdly - Using girds where the number order is unexpected We include a further sixteen different 10 x 10 grids with the numbers starting in different corners and running in different directions, right to left, up to down and down to up! Children who successfully work with these number grids will really enhance their understanding of number order and number properties.

This early number recognition resource will help children to form, write and explore numbers from 1-10. The download includes 41 pages of different mats with high quality, realistic Clay Number images. These are designed to help children to form numbers by finger-tracing or forming clay/dough or Plasticine over the ‘number shape’. The mats also include sections for the children to work with ‘one more’ and ‘one less’, write numerals, link numbers to quantities and use ‘Tens Frames’. Print the ones you want, laminate (or place in pocket files) and re-use as often as necessary.

The 6 page pdf file contains 100 two-step problems, such as: Subtract 12 from the product of 7 and 2 Double the difference between 28 and 41 Multiply a fifth of 20 by 10 Five times a number has the same value as 28 + 17. What is the number? This maths activity focused on helping children to work out what to do when faced with a two-step problem. Working with thinking partners, each child has a problem card. They take it in turns to read it out and discuss how it could be attacked; discussing what maths functions they need to apply in order to solve the problem. Importantly, they must also decide on the order of those functions and be prepared to explain everything to each other. The focus (as with most mathsticks resources) is very much on the maths talk. This is a very useful activity for either the introductory or plenary phase of a lesson with children working together on mini whiteboards. The maths problems could also be used as part of group activity. Naturally, the focus is on the mathematical talk and the decisions the children make regarding the problem rather than on the actual “answer”. The problems here could easily be adapted or enhanced. In a following session the children could be asked to create their own problems, using these as a template, but focusing on specific concepts: subtraction and percentages, for example. 10 pages with 10 problems each - print, cut out, laminate, use and re-use. If you use this, please rate the resource so others can find it, and post a comment to let me know how it worked for you.