Number Stories
When we approach a number story in school, there are a few steps we go through and a few different ways we can use to solve them. Here I will give an example number story and try and explain these steps.
'Mrs Melen had 5 oranges, Mrs Fowler gave her 5 more. How many oranges does Mrs Melen have now.'
When we approach a number story in school, there are a few steps we go through and a few different ways we can use to solve them. Here I will give an example number story and try and explain these steps.
'Mrs Melen had 5 oranges, Mrs Fowler gave her 5 more. How many oranges does Mrs Melen have now.'
- First we look for the important information, and start with the numbers, we write the numbers down to start our number sentence but leave a gap for the sign.
- Next we look at the vocabulary to help us to decide if we will be adding or taking away, will the number of oranges get bigger or smaller? We then put the sign in the middle as well as an equals sign, stressing that equals means 'the same as'.
- We are then ready to solve the number story, we can do this in several ways.
- Use number bonds/ known facts - there are some facts that we just know, we can use these to solve problems.
- Counting forward or backwards, put the biggest number in your head and put the smaller number on your fingers. Then we count forwards for addition or backwards for take away. You can also use this method on a number line by pointing at the bigger number and jumping your finger forwards or backwards the correct amount.
- Draw pictures - for addition draw 2 sets of objects, for take away draw a set of objects and cross out the given number. We tend to just draw little circles or spots whatever the subject of the number story, otherwise trying to draw 10 bunny rabbits can be quite time consuming!
- Use the Numicon shapes. For addition push the shapes and count altogether, for subtraction place the smallest shape on top of the biggest and count how many holes are left.