Using number lines in Key Stage 2

Episode 74 of the The NCETM Maths Podcast podcast, hosted by NCETM, titled "Using number lines in Key Stage 2" was published on August 10, 2023 and runs 23 minutes.

August 10, 2023 ·23m · The NCETM Maths Podcast

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Summary

We explore how number lines can be used at KS2 to support children to develop a greater understanding of the linear number system and prepare them for secondary maths. A transcript (PDF) of this episode is available to download. Show notes Taking part in the discussion: Jennifer Ruddock, deputy headteacher, Corrie Primary School, Denton Jordanna Worrall, head of maths, Denton Community College, Denton Julia Morgans, Maths Hub Lead, Turing North West Maths Hub Julia Thomson, Communications Manager at the NCETM. Episode chapters 00:05 – Introduction 02:23 – Why participants in the Work Group focused on the number line 06:25 – Exploring use of the number line at KS2 09:06 – Why drawing and understanding number lines is important at KS3 and beyond 11:20 – The importance of collaboration between KS2 and KS3 for progression 12:40 – How KS2 teachers can prepare children for KS3 maths using number lines 14:44 – Using number lines and the midpoint to support children in rounding 16:14 – Using number lines to find fractions of an hour and solve time problems 18:37 – Using number lines to find equivalent ratio 21:44 – Concluding thoughts on possible uses for number lines in KS2 and KS3 Useful links Issue 35 of Espresso provides useful reading on the number line Number Sense on the Number Line by Woods et al (2017) There are a wealth of activities designed to explore the linear number system, featuring number lines, in the NCETM Ready-to-Progress Criteria Years 5-8 Continuity professional development project Video summary of the research report, Understanding Structured Number Lines, which inspired the focus on number lines taken by Turing North West’s Years 5-8 Continuity Work Groups Find your hub Explore previous episodes of the NCETM podcast in our archive. Diagnostic task Children from Year 5, 6 and 8 classes were asked to draw a number line, either from 1 to 100 or from 50 to 70, with intervals of 10 marked on the line. Teachers observed the spacing of the intervals and paid particular attention to whether children could accurately indicate the location of the midpoint. Diagram The number lines referred to by Jordanna can be viewed on the NCETM website.

Episode Description

We explore how number lines can be used at KS2 to support children to develop a greater understanding of the linear number system and prepare them for secondary maths.

A transcript (PDF) of this episode is available to download.

Show notes Taking part in the discussion:

Jennifer Ruddock, deputy headteacher, Corrie Primary School, Denton
Jordanna Worrall, head of maths, Denton Community College, Denton
Julia Morgans, Maths Hub Lead, Turing North West Maths Hub
Julia Thomson, Communications Manager at the NCETM.

Episode chapters

00:05 – Introduction
02:23 – Why participants in the Work Group focused on the number line
06:25 – Exploring use of the number line at KS2
09:06 – Why drawing and understanding number lines is important at KS3 and beyond
11:20 – The importance of collaboration between KS2 and KS3 for progression
12:40 – How KS2 teachers can prepare children for KS3 maths using number lines
14:44 – Using number lines and the midpoint to support children in rounding
16:14 – Using number lines to find fractions of an hour and solve time problems
18:37 – Using number lines to find equivalent ratio
21:44 – Concluding thoughts on possible uses for number lines in KS2 and KS3

Useful links

Issue 35 of Espresso provides useful reading on the number line
Number Sense on the Number Line by Woods et al (2017)
There are a wealth of activities designed to explore the linear number system, featuring number lines, in the NCETM Ready-to-Progress Criteria
Years 5-8 Continuity professional development project
Video summary of the research report, Understanding Structured Number Lines, which inspired the focus on number lines taken by Turing North West’s Years 5-8 Continuity Work Groups
Find your hub
Explore previous episodes of the NCETM podcast in our archive.

Diagnostic task

Children from Year 5, 6 and 8 classes were asked to draw a number line, either from 1 to 100 or from 50 to 70, with intervals of 10 marked on the line. Teachers observed the spacing of the intervals and paid particular attention to whether children could accurately indicate the location of the midpoint.

Diagram

The number lines referred to by Jordanna can be viewed on the NCETM website.