Source of the Week: reflective symmetry

There is quite a lot of work in the year 6 on symmetry and the subject often comes in the key stage 2 SATs.

This number includes important vocabulary and by the end of the year 6 children must know and be able to read, write and use the following quite tricky words:

Mirror, line of symmetry, line symmetry, symmetrical, reflect, reflection, translation, axis of symmetry, reflective symmetry.

They must also be able for symmetry with the help of a mirror and by folding testing.

Children are expected to outline the reflection of a simple form in a line of the mirror where no or only a part of the shape's edges parallel or perpendicular to the line of the mirror.

This might seem simple, but actually prove problematic to many children. A small mirror or tracing paper can be a great help with this.

Year 6 maths worksheet: reflective symmetry

Source of the Week: magic square with negative numbers

With the year 6 SATs and another half term in mathematics to get by there never been a better time to some studies and puzzles. One of my favorite topics is the magic square, as it can be incredibly simple or extremely complex. This special magic square is quite challenging when it comes to adding positive and negative numbers, so it is a good check to see if children trust dealing with negative numbers

To convert the numbers in the squares is given on all three magic squares and on the first puzzle there is an indication that each row, column and diagonal adds up to-3.

One of the best strategies to use with this is to work out what the number should be and what the total for each row etc should be. It is also a good idea to cut out small squares with the numbers on around the Board so that they can be moved with ease.

Please note that there are several ways of solving this magical squares and only one way it appears on the page response.

Magic square negative numbers

Source of the Week: 6 year convert metric units

Children in year 6 still have plenty of practice using the metric system, in particular larger convert metric units to smaller. Here we are a page that looks meters into centimeters, pounds to grams and liters to ml mark.

One of the trickier aspects of this is to put a weight as 6.09 kg in grams, which of course is 6090 g. watch out for common mistake children write only 609 g.

This is one of several similar pages found in our year 6 measuring section of the site.

Year 6 larger units for smaller units (1)

Source of the Week: 6 year mathematics challenge

Here is a bit tricky puzzle that is 6 years or upper juniors (9/11). Ideal for wet breaks!

Use only the digits 1 through 9 complete correct the number of sentences, both horizontally and vertically, so they all are.

A good knowledge of tables is needed, along with the ability to add and subtract mentally.

The hardest part of this puzzle is getting started and the best approach is to use process and improvement by picking one row or column that can have only a limited number of opportunities. This wouldn't be the first row or column down.

This particular puzzle to look at the first row is a x b – c = 34. Start by watching combinations of numbers that when multiplied, more than 34 (but no more than 43 if the maximum subtraction is 9) and then see what number can be subtracted to leave 34.

An important note about this: all calculations are done in the following order: Bodmas is not applicable.

1-9 (1A)