A Guide to using

the Nintendo
DS Lite in your
classroom to
support
Mathematics
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 Contents

P 4 & 5 Introduction, Maths Training

Programme
P6 Practice Exercises

P7 Kageyama Method

P8 Daily Test

P9 Getting the best from your

Nintendo DS
P10 Using Passports in
conjunction with the DS
P11 Practical tips

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 Introduction
This booklet has been
written to support schools in
using their Nintendo DS
consoles in the best way pos-
sible.

Our findings come from using

the Nintendos in several
research projects in Lewisham
schools looking at different
ways of maximising their use.

We have used them across

KS2. However, they could be
used by Y2 children to
develop their mental maths
abilities and speedy recall.

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In this booklet the game ‘Maths
Training’ is referred to.
You can use your hand held con-
soles :
• With the whole class
• With small targeted groups
• Daily for about 10-15
minutes

Maths Training

The game has three main study

modes.

1. Practice Exercises
2. Kageyama Method
3. Daily Test

Practicing regularly for a short

amount of time, say 10-15 minutes,
every day over a sustained period
of time is the best way to increase
mental agility.

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 1. Practice Exercises
This mode focuses on calculation
techniques. It is ideal for practising
quick mental recall of addition and
subtraction facts and multiplication
tables.
• There are 40 exercises. They are
listed according to the type of prob-
lems contained and the appropriate
one can be found by scrolling
through the pages at the bottom of
the screen.
• Children should be directed to the
type of activity which will support
their level of mental recall. These
include:
• Flash cards which support
memory and number recognition
• Multiplication Tables from 1 to 9
which give random practice of
multiplication facts.
• More complex +/-/x calculations
which require advanced strate-
gies and skills.

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 2. Kageyama Method
(10 cell, 30 cell or 100 cell maths)
In this mode +/-/x problems can be
solved using grids.
Start with 10 cell moving eventually to
100 cell. The same grid can be used
to increase speed.

X 6 5 7 8 9 2 1 4 3 0
4

Division problems can also be solved in

this mode. There are three types, easy
(27÷3 no remainders) normal remain-
ders 28÷3) hard (harder problems with
remainders 26÷3).
You can repeat the ‘same’ problems or
select ‘random’ to change
the problems each time you play.

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 3. Daily Test
In this mode a test is completed once
daily starting at a very simple level:

• Flash cards
• Addition of two 1-digit numbers
• Subtraction of two 1-digit numbers

Unless there is significant difficulty with

the level being worked on, The level
moves up every five days becoming
increasingly harder.

This may mean that children move on too

soon without consolidating what they
know and quickly reach a level that is too
difficult for them.

Rather than the Daily Test, we recom-

mend using the Practice Exercises.
Children should be directed to
appropriate exercises which will enable
them to develop their speed and mental
agility.

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 How will the Nitendo DS Lite
support
children’s mathematical fluency?

• Improved recall of number facts and

times tables facts
• Improved mental maths skills transferred
to the daily mathematics lesson
• Improved application of mental maths
skills
• Improved self-esteem within mental
mathematics
• Mathematics will be seen as fun and
engaging.
Getting the best from your DS
Mental calculation is a key skill for children’s
success as mathematicians. Mental Calcu-
lation strategies need to be taught explicitly
alongside development of rapid recall of
number facts.
A document outlining the expectations for
teaching mental calculation for each year
group, with examples, is available at:
http://lewisham.lgfl.net.

For further activity ideas please refer to the

QCA document ‘Teaching mental calculation
strategies’ ref.QCA/99/380

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 Passports

Lewisham recommend the use of the

‘Numeracy Passport’ as a whole school ap-
proach to learning number facts.

The Passports support children in achieving

quick recall of facts which is
vital as they progress through the school.
These facts are linked to the ’know and us-
ing number facts’ strand of the Primary
Framework for Mathematics.

‘101 Mental Oral Starters’ is a CD ROM de-

signed to provide a range of games and ac-
tivities that will develop speed and mental
agility in mathematics.
Every Lewisham school should have
received a copy of this software.

Access to an Apple Mac version is also

available. Please contact the Primary Strat-
egy Mathematics Team for a copy (0208
314 6734)

The Passports and accompanying

certificates can be downloaded from
http://lewisham.lgfl.net

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 Practical Tips

1. Use the Nintendo DS regularly for a

short period of time.
2. Make sure they are working on the
correct ‘Maths Training’ Practice Ex-
ercises for their specific needs.
3. Teach children mental calculation
strategies.
4. Teach them to visualise a number
line to calculate speedily mentally.
5. Provide a sheet on which they can
record their daily progress.
6. Encourage them to gain at least 2nd
place before moving on.
7. Each DS allows three users to
enable you to share the resource
amongst classes.
8. Make sure you have a lockable
cupboard in which to store them.
9. Have a class monitor who is
responsible for handing them
out and collecting them daily.
day.

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 Lewisham Primary Strategy Team
Lewisham Leadership and Development College
Kilmorie Road
London
SE23 2SP
Tel: 020 8314 6146
Fax: 020 8314 3072

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