Welcome to this week's maths page!

When we do maths at school we warm up our brains by practising something that we have learnt before and something that requires regular consolidation and practise. We call this a maths starter. The content of the starter doesn't have to be linked to the maths that is being covered in the main part of the maths lesson.

This a really useful document that has lots of ideas for quick starters.

Money, money, money!

This week we will be having a little look at coins. There is no expectation for the children to be able to identify the value of coins or name them at this age. However, they are naturally intrigued by them and this seems to be the first thing that they are curious about. It's always best to look at real coins when you are exploring them with children but we cant always lay our hands on every coin! Try your best though and if you can't find one of every coin them here are some pictures of them. The pictures are magnified so you and your child can really scrutinise the detail. Things to look at and talk about...

• What colour are they?
• Who are the people on the coins?
• What are the unusual pictures of?
• Order them in size, is the biggest the most valuable? 
• What do the numbers mean?
• Why have they got dates on them?

Children grasp concepts best through play so ask your child to make a food or maybe a toys shop or maybe a garden centre out in the garden!

Ask them to make labels for the things they are selling. Pretend you are a customer coming to their shop. Ask them how much things cost, pretend to give change and ask them to even do a half price sale or a price hike so they can practise halving and doubling amounts!

HAVE FUN!!