BIG MATHS

What is Big Maths?

Big Maths is an approach to teaching number that aims to ensure that children are confidently numerate as they progress through school. It provides a rigorous and progressive structure and enables children to fully embed key skills and numeracy facts through fun and engaging lessons. It is based on 4 key elements which make up each maths lesson: CLIC.

Counting – Counting is done in many ways including counting forwards and backwards in various increments; work on place value and reading and ordering numbers.

Learn Its – Learn Its There are 72 number facts which are learnt throughout the years from Reception to Year 4. They are split across the different terms so that each class works on a few Learn Its at a time to ensure they are fully embedded. 36 are addition facts and 36 are multiplication facts; these are learnt in class and are tested.

It’s Nothing New – Children use a bank of facts and methods that they already have to solve problems and that each step of progress is very small; children will use and apply their skills and methods to a range of different situations and problems.

Calculation – This is often the main part of the maths lesson which focuses on teaching solid written and mental methods for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. The children move through progress drives which introduce small, focused steps of progress throughout the year.

How does Big Maths work?

The children all have a daily CLIC session based on the four elements of big maths. Each group works on a set list of Learn Its each term and these are tested each week in a timed test made up of several Learn Its from the appropriate maths level.

In addition to this, each class will complete a Beat That test which is an untimed test made up of questions on several areas of maths. Each time the children enjoy trying to beat their own previous score.

How can you support Big Maths at home?

Children should be practising the appropriate Learn Its for their class/group at home to support what is happening in lessons.

The Big Maths Characters

Mully

Where’s Mully’ is a Big Maths game where the objective is to find where Mully is hiding on the number square. It is about extending children’s knowledge of multiples. Children are asked to find Mully by identifying the largest multiple of a given number yet staying in the parameters of a limited maximum number.

Count Four Ways

Count Fourways teaches the children that if they can count in four different ways, then they can apply this knowledge to counting in many ways.

Pimm

This character teaches us that 3 things add four things always equals seven things. These ‘things’ could be anything, including objects, amounts and measures. Therefore, if one knows that 6 add 2 equals 8, then one also knows that £6 add £2 must equal £8.

Squiggleworth

This character helps us to learn about partitioning numbers (he shows us what each ‘squiggle’ in a number is worth). The children begin by placing the number into the spots on his tummy and then continue by writing what the number is worth in his feet underneath. So if the children wanted to partition 643, they would place 6, 4 and 3 into the three spots on his tummy and write 600, 40 and 3 on his feet underneath.

Pom

Pom is an alien. Pom has several features that help children learn 4 key mathematical words: multiple, factor, square and prime.

LEARN ITS CHALLENGE