Is it possible to identify which calculation will give a greater answer without actually calculating?  These activities encouraged our Year 5 children to think about the numbers involved in calculations, rather than automatically reaching for column method!  The children completed 4 different activities involving reasoning skills:

- Which related calculation will give the greatest answer? How do you know?

- Who has a calculation that can be used to help solve my calculation?

- Can you write related calculations and establish whether they will give a greater or smaller answer?

- Can you write the calculations that will give these answers, using a related calculation to help?

The children enjoyed discussing their ideas, looking for patterns and relationships and thinking about quick ways to adjust between related calculations.