Why do this
problem?
This problem consolidates understanding of place value in a
demanding but intriguing context. In order to tackle the
problem, learners will have to organise and sort the
information given.
Possible approach
Show the image of the numbers to the group and ask them to
talk to a partner about what they notice. Gather some
suggestions and explain what the image shows, if this has not
already come up in discussion. Invite learners to suggest
ways of beginning the problem and then set them off in pairs
to work together, using
this copy of the image
and providing squared paper.
As they work, encourage them to develop a good way to record
their findings.
In the plenary, it might be helpful for you to enlarge
this sheet and cut out
the numbers so they can be moved around on the board. (If
these were laminated, they would make a useful set of cards
to be used again.) You could invite pairs of children to
explain how they reached their conclusions and recorded the
results. This could lead into a discussion of the place value
system (compared with, for example, Roman numerals).
Key questions
Which numbers do you know?
Can you see any similarities between any of the numbers?
Which numbers are the 'shortest' and the 'longest'?
Possible extension
You could encourage children to find out the name of each
script.
Possible support
Some children may find it useful to cut out the individual
numbers so they can be sorted more easily.