CAMBRIDGE PRIMARY MATHEMATICS STAGE 6 THINKING AND WORKING MATHEMATICALLY RESOURCE SHEET

Thinking and Working Mathematically

resource sheet
Specialising: Choosing an example and checking Generalising: Recognising an underlying pattern
to see if it satisfies or does not satisfy specific by identifying many examples that satisfy the
mathematical criteria. same mathematical criteria.

I can choose examples and check to see if they I can make connections between numbers and
do, or do not satisfy the criteria. objects that will help me find patterns or rules.

Sentence starters Sentence starters

 I could try ….  I found the pattern … so ….
 … is the only one that ….
 … is the only one that does not ….

Conjecturing: Forming mathematical questions Convincing: Presenting evidence to justify or

or ideas. challenge a mathematical idea or solution.

I can say what I notice or why something happens I can persuade people (a partner, group,
or what I think about something. class or an adult) that a statement or an
idea is true or false.

Sentence starters Sentence starters

 I think that ….  This is because ….
 I wonder if ….  You can see that ….
 I agree with … because ….
 I disagree with … because ….

Characterising: Identifying and describing the Classifying: Organising objects into groups
mathematical properties of an object. according to their mathematical properties.

I can identify and describe the mathematical I can sort numbers or objects into groups
properties of a number or object. according to their mathematical properties.
I can use Venn and Carroll diagrams.

Sentence starters Sentence starters

 This is similar to … so ….  … go together because ….
 The properties of … include ….  I can organise the … into groups according to ….

Cambridge Primary Mathematics 6 – Wood, Low, Byrd & Byrd © Cambridge University Press 2021 1
 CAMBRIDGE PRIMARY MATHEMATICS STAGE 6 THINKING AND WORKING MATHEMATICALLY RESOURCE SHEET

Critiquing: Comparing and evaluating Improving: Refining mathematical ideas or

mathematical ideas, representations or solutions representations to develop a more effective
to identify advantages and disadvantages. approach or solution.

I can compare methods and ideas by identifying I can find a better solution.
their advantages and disadvantages.

Sentence starters Sentence starters

 The advantages of … are and the  The method would be better if ….
disadvantages are ….  I can improve the method by ....

Cambridge Primary Mathematics 6 – Wood, Low, Byrd & Byrd © Cambridge University Press 2021 2