Can You See the Pattern?
Class 5 · Mathematics
5 ideas in Class 5 Mathematics, explained in plain words, with games and quizzes to practise.
Patterns Made by Turning
Part of: Turns and patterns
A pattern can be made by taking one shape and turning it by the same amount again and again. A one-fourth turn clockwise is like the hand of a clock moving from 12 to 3. A half turn goes from 12 to 6, and a three-fourth turn goes from 12 to 9. Four one-fourth turns bring the shape back to where it began.
Why it matters. Turning patterns train children to picture movement in their heads. This helps with reading clocks, maps and directions, and with spotting the rule in any repeating design.
Try it in two minutes
- Cut out a paper arrow and lay it flat so that it points to the door.
- Turn the paper a one-fourth turn like a clock hand. Ask: where does the arrow point now?
- Keep turning by one-fourth and ask your child to say the direction each time until the arrow is back where it began.
- Now try a half turn each time and ask what pattern the arrow makes.
Try at home. Ask your child to draw a letter or a small flag four times in a row, turning it a one-fourth turn clockwise each time.
Palindromes and Reversing
Part of: Special numbers and words
A palindrome is a number or word that reads the same from left to right and from right to left, such as 262 or the word LEVEL. To make a palindrome from a number, write it back to front and add the two numbers. If the answer is not a palindrome, repeat the same step with the answer.
Why it matters. Reversing and adding gives children plenty of addition practice with a small surprise at the end. It also makes them look closely at digits and place value.
Try it in two minutes
- Write 24 on paper and ask your child to write it back to front. Then add the two numbers: 24 and 42 make 66.
- Ask: does 66 read the same both ways? That is a palindrome.
- Try 39. Add 39 and 93, then reverse and add again if the answer is not a palindrome.
- Look for palindrome words together, like MOM, DAD or CIVIC.
Try at home. Ask your child to find three palindrome numbers on car number plates, clocks or price tags.
Changing the Order
Part of: Numbers and numbers
When you add numbers, you get the same total in whatever order you add them. 12 plus 30 plus 8 is the same as 8 plus 12 plus 30. The same is true when you multiply two numbers, so 6 times 15 gives the same answer as 15 times 6.
Why it matters. Knowing this lets children choose the easiest order and add quickly in their heads, for example by adding the numbers that make a round number first.
Try it in two minutes
- Put 3 groups of coins on the table: 15, 20 and 5 rupees.
- Ask your child to add them in the order given, and then in a different order. Compare the totals.
- Ask: which order was easiest, and why?
- Then ask whether 4 rows of 9 biscuits is the same as 9 rows of 4.
Try at home. Give your child three shopping prices and ask them to find the total in the quickest order they can.
Number Patterns and Calendar Magic
Part of: Number patterns
Many number sums follow a hidden pattern. Adding the first few odd numbers always gives a square: 1 plus 3 is 4, which is 2 times 2, and 1 plus 3 plus 5 is 9, which is 3 times 3. On a calendar, the 9 dates in a 3 by 3 box add up to 9 times the middle date.
Why it matters. Spotting a pattern turns a long sum into a quick one. Children begin to see that mathematics has shortcuts they can discover for themselves.
Try it in two minutes
- Add 1, 3, 5 and 7 with your child. Ask: is this the same as 4 times 4?
- Add one more odd number and check the total against 5 times 5.
- Open a calendar and draw a box around 9 dates, 3 rows by 3 columns.
- Ask your child to multiply the middle date by 9 and then check by adding all nine.
Try at home. Challenge your child to pick any 3 by 3 box on a calendar and predict the total before adding.
Secret Numbers and Number Surprises
Part of: Secret numbers and surprises
In a secret number game you give clues such as 'it is between 40 and 50' or 'the tens digit is one more than the ones digit', and a friend finds the number. In a number surprise, you follow a set of steps like doubling and halving, and the answer turns out to be the number you started with.
Why it matters. Clue games teach children to use every piece of information and to rule out wrong answers. Number surprises show that tricks in mathematics have reasons behind them.
Try it in two minutes
- Think of a two-digit number and give three clues, such as the range and the digit sum.
- Let your child guess and tell them if they are too high or too low.
- Then try a surprise: pick a number, add 4, double it, subtract 8, halve it.
- Ask: what did you get? Try another start number to check whether the result matches.
Try at home. Ask your child to write clues for a secret number and test the puzzle on a family member.
What your child will practise
- Changing the Order: Ocean Quest (Flip and Match)
- Number Patterns and Calendar Magic: Candy Quick Fire (Quick Fire)
- Palindromes and Reversing: Number Quest (Match It Up)
- Patterns Made by Turning: Jungle Quest (Collect the Answer)
- Secret Numbers and Number Surprises: Jungle Puzzle (Clue Puzzle)
- Quiz: Changing the Order (8 questions)
- Quiz: Number Patterns and Calendar Magic (8 questions)
- Quiz: Palindromes and Reversing (8 questions)
- Quiz: Patterns Made by Turning (8 questions)