Num Mathematics Vocabulary

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The National Numeracy Strategy Guidance
Curriculum & Standards
Mathematical Headteachers &

teachers
Vocabulary Primary schools

Status: recommended
Date of issue: December 2000
Ref: DfEE 0313/2000
Mathematical Vocabulary Book
INTRODUCTION
Who is this book for?

The purpose of this book is to identify the words and phrases that children need to
understand and use if they are to make good progress in mathematics. It is designed to
support the National Numeracy Strategy alongside the Framework for Teaching
Mathematics.
This booklet will be of particular interest to you if you are:
a class teacher
a member of staff supporting pupils learning English as an additional language
a special needs teacher or assistant
a classroom assistant working with pupils in mathematics lessons
a parent or other adult supporting children in class or at home
Why is the book needed?

There are three main ways in which children’s failure to understand mathematical vocabulary
may show itself: children do not respond to questions in lessons, they cannot do a task they
are set and/or they do poorly in tests.
Their lack of response may be because:
they do not understand the spoken or written instructions,

such as ‘draw a line between…’, ‘ring…’ or ‘find two different ways to…’
they are not familiar with the mathematical vocabulary,

that is, words such as ‘difference’, ‘subtract’, ‘divide’ or ‘product’
they may be confused about mathematical terms,

such as ‘odd’ or ‘table’, which have different meanings in everyday English
they may be confused about other words,

like ‘area’ or ‘divide’, which are used in everyday English and have similar, though more
precise, meanings in mathematics
There are, then, practical reasons why children need to acquire appropriate vocabulary so
that they can participate in the activities, lessons and tests that are part of classroom life.
There is, however, an even more important reason: mathematical language is crucial to
children’s development of thinking. If children don’t have the vocabulary to talk about division,
or perimeters, or numerical difference, they cannot make progress in understanding these
areas of mathematical knowledge.
1
How is the book organised and how can it be used?
To help you introduce appropriate mathematical language at the right time, this book
provides four pages of vocabulary checklists for each year group. The first three pages
for each year cover mathematical vocabulary relating to the Framework for Teaching
Mathematics, organised according to its five strands:
numbers and the number system
calculations
solving problems
handling data
measures, shape and space
Using and Applying Mathematics is integrated throughout.
The fourth page for each year group lists the language commonly used when
giving instructions about mathematical problems, both in questions in national tests
and in published resources.
The words listed for each year include vocabulary from the previous year, with new
words for the year printed in red from Year 1 onwards. Some words may appear under
different strands in different years, as their meaning is expanded or made more
specific.
Class teachers can use these lists to identify the vocabulary relating to a series of
lessons they are planning. They can make provision for the introduction of new
vocabulary and the consolidation of familiar terms. They can ask support staff and
parents to emphasise this vocabulary for an appropriate period.
The checklists are not intended to be exhaustive; you can add more words if you would
like to do so.
How do children develop their understanding of

mathematical vocabulary?
Teachers often use informal, everyday language in mathematics lessons before or
alongside technical mathematical vocabulary. Although this can help children to grasp
the meaning of different words and phrases, you will find that a structured approach to
the teaching and learning of vocabulary is essential if children are to move on and
begin using the correct mathematical terminology as soon as possible.
Some children may start school with a good understanding of mathematical words
when used informally, either in English or their home language. Find out the extent of
their mathematical vocabulary and the depth of their understanding, and build on this.
You need to plan the introduction of new words in a suitable context, for example, with
relevant real objects, mathematical apparatus, pictures and/or diagrams. Explain their
meanings carefully and rehearse them several times. Referring to new words only once
will do little to promote learning. Encourage their use in context in oral sessions,
particularly through your questioning. You can help sort out any ambiguities or
misconceptions your pupils may have through a range of open and closed questions.
Use every opportunity to draw attention to new words or symbols with the whole class,
in a group or when talking to individual pupils. The final stages are learning to read and
write new mathematical vocabulary in a range of circumstances, ultimately spelling the
relevant words correctly.
2
Regular, planned opportunities for development
It is not just younger children who need regular, planned opportunities to develop
their mathematical vocabulary. All children throughout Key Stages 1 and 2 need to
experience a cycle of oral work, reading and writing as outlined below.
oral work based on practical work
so that they have visual images and tactile experience of what mathematical words
mean in a variety of contexts
other forms of oral work
so that they have opportunities to:
– listen to adults and other children using the words correctly
– acquire confidence and fluency in speaking, using complete sentences that

include the new words and phrases, sometimes in chorus with others and
sometimes individually
– describe, define and compare mathematical properties, positions, methods,

patterns, relationships, rules
– discuss ways of tackling a problem, collecting data, organising their work…
– hypothesise or make predictions about possible results
– present, explain and justify their methods, results, solutions or reasoning, to the
whole class or to a group or partner
– generalise, or describe examples that match a general statement
reading aloud and silently, sometimes as a whole class and sometimes

individually,
for example, reading:
– numbers, signs and symbols, expressions and equations in blackboard
presentations
– instructions and explanations in workbooks, textbooks, CD-ROMs…
– texts with mathematical references in fiction and non-fiction books and books
of rhymes during the literacy hour as well as mathematics lessons
– labels and captions on classroom displays, in diagrams, graphs, charts and

tables…
– definitions in illustrated dictionaries, including dictionaries that they themselves

have made, in order to discover synonyms, origins of words, words that start with
the same group of letters (such as triangle, tricycle, triplet, trisect…)
writing and recording in a variety of ways, progressing from words,

phrases and short sentences to paragraphs and longer pieces of writing,
for example:
– writing prose in order to describe, compare, predict, interpret, explain, justify…
– writing formulae, first using words, then symbols
– sketching and labelling diagrams in order to clarify their meaning
– drawing and labelling graphs, charts or tables, and interpreting and making
predictions from the data in them, in mathematics and other subjects
3
?
The skill of questioning
Children cannot learn the meanings of words in isolation. The use of questions is crucial in
helping them to understand mathematical ideas and use mathematical terms correctly.
It is important to ask questions in different ways so that children who do not understand the first time
may pick up the meaning subsequently. Pupils for whom English is an additional language
benefit and so will others who are not always familiar with the vocabulary and grammatical
structures used in school.
It is easy to use certain types of questions — those that ask the listener to recall and apply
facts — more often than those that require a higher level of thinking. If you can use the full
range of question types you will find that children begin to give more complex answers in
which they explain their thinking.
?
Types of question
Recalling facts
What is 3 add 7?
How many days are there in a week?
How many centimetres are there in a metre?
Is 31 a prime number?
Applying facts
Tell me two numbers that have a difference of 12.
What unit would you choose to measure the width of the table?
What are the factors of 42?
Hypothesising or predicting
Estimate the number of marbles in this jar.
If we did our survey again on Friday, how likely is it that our graph would be the same?
Roughly, what is 51 times 47?
How many rectangles in the next diagram?
And the next?
Designing and comparing procedures

How might we count this pile of sticks?
How could you subtract 37 from 82?
How could we test a number to see if it is divisible by 6?
How could we find the 20th triangular number?
Are there other ways of doing it?
Interpreting results
So what does that tell us about numbers that end in 5 or 0?
What does the graph tell us about the most common shoe size?
So what can we say about the sum of the angles in a triangle?
Applying reasoning
The seven coins in my purse total 23p. What could they be?
In how many different ways can four children sit at a round table?
Why is the sum of two odd numbers always even?
4
?
On this and the following page are further examples of questions to
help you promote good dialogue and interaction in mathematics
lessons
Below are examples of closed questions with just one correct answer and open questions which have a number
of different correct answers. Open questions give more children a chance to respond and they often provide a
greater challenge for higher attaining pupils, who can be asked to think of alternative answers and, in suitable
cases, to count all the different possibilities.
Closed questions Open questions
Count these cubes. How could we count these cubes?
A chew costs 3p. A lolly costs 7p. A chew and a lolly cost 10p altogether. What could
What do they cost altogether? each sweet cost?
What is 6 – 4? Tell me two numbers with a difference of 2.
What is 2 + 6 – 3? What numbers can you make with 2, 3 and 6?
Is 16 an even number? What even numbers lie between 10 and 20?
Write a number in each box so 3 9 Write a number in each circle so

12
that it equals the sum of the two that the number in each box
numbers on each side of it. equals the sum of the two numbers 10 13
7 4 on each side of it. Find different 11
ways of doing it.
Copy and complete this addition table. + 4 7 Find different ways of completing
2 this table. 3 4
6 7
What are four threes? Tell me two numbers with a product of 12.
What is 7 x 6? If 7 x 6 = 42, what else can you work out?
How many centimetres are there in a metre? Tell me two lengths that together make 1 metre.
Continue this sequence: 1, 2, 4… Find different ways of continuing this sequence:

1, 2, 4…
What is one fifth add four fifths? Write eight different ways of adding two numbers
to make 1.
What is 10% of 300? Find ways of completing: …% of … = 30
What is this shape called? Sketch some different triangles.
°C This graph shows °C

This graph shows
19 19
room temperature room temperature
18 18
on 19 May. on 19 May.
17 17
16 16
What was the Can you explain it?
15 15
temperature at
10.00 am? 0900 1000 1100 1200 0900 1000 1100 1200
Time Time
5
?
Questions that can help to extend children’s thinking
Ask children who are getting started

with a piece of work:
Ask children who are stuck:
Can you describe the problem in your own
How are you going to tackle this? words?
What information do you have? What do you need Can you talk me through what you have done
to find out or do? so far?
What operation/s are you going to use? What did you do last time? What is different this
time?
Will you do it mentally, with pencil and paper,
using a number line, with a calculator…? Why? Is there something that you already know that
might help?
What method are you going to use? Why?
Could you try it with simpler numbers… fewer
What equipment will you need? numbers… using a number line…?
What questions will you need to ask? What about putting things in order?
How are you going to record what you are doing? Would a table help, or a picture/diagram/graph?
What do you think the answer or result will be? Why not make a guess and check if it works?
Can you estimate or predict?
Have you compared your work with anyone
else’s?
Make positive interventions to check
progress while children are working,
by asking: During the plenary session of
a lesson ask:
Can you explain what you have done so far?
What else is there to do? How did you get your answer?
Why did you decide to use this method or do it Can you describe your method/pattern/rule to us
this way? all? Can you explain why it works?
Can you think of another method that might have What could you try next?
worked?
Would it work with different numbers?
Could there be a quicker way of doing this?
What if you had started with… rather than…?
What do you mean by…?
What if you could only use…?
What did you notice when…?
Is it a reasonable answer/result? What makes
Why did you decide to organise your results like you say so?
that?
How did you check it?
Are you beginning to see a pattern or a rule?
What have you learned or found out today?
Do you think that this would work with other
If you were doing it again, what would you do
numbers?
differently?
Have you thought of all the possibilities? How can
Having done this, when could you use this
you be sure?
method/information/idea again?
Did you use any new words today? What do they

mean? How do you spell them?
What are the key points or ideas that you need to

remember for the next lesson?
6
Mathematical Vocabulary Checklists
RECEPTION to YEAR 6
7
RECEPTION
Counting and recognising Adding and subtracting

numbers add, more, and
make, sum, total
COUNTING altogether
number score
zero, one, two, three… to twenty and beyond double
zero, ten, twenty… one hundred one more, two more, ten more…
none how many more to make… ?
how many…? how many more is… than…?
count, count (up) to take (away), leave
count on (from, to) how many are left/left over?
count back (from, to) how many have gone?
count in ones, twos… tens… one less, two less… ten less…
more, less, many, few how many fewer is… than…?
odd, even difference between
every other is the same as
how many times?
pattern, pair
guess how many, estimate
nearly, close to, about the same as
just over, just under
too many, too few, enough, not enough
COMPARING AND ORDERING NUMBERS

the same number as, as many as
Of two objects/amounts:
greater, more, larger, bigger
less, fewer, smaller
Of three or more objects/amounts:
greatest, most, biggest, largest
least, fewest, smallest
one more, ten more
one less, ten less
compare
order
size
first, second, third… tenth
last, last but one
before, after
next
between
above, below
8
RECEPTION
Solving problems Measures, shape and space

REASONING ABOUT NUMBERS OR SHAPES MEASURES (GENERAL)
pattern measure
puzzle size
answer compare
right, wrong guess, estimate
what could we try next? enough, not enough
how did you work it out? too much, too little
count, sort too many, too few
group, set nearly, close to, about the same as
match just over, just under
same, different
list LENGTH
length, width, height, depth
PROBLEMS INVOLVING ‘REAL LIFE’ long, short, tall
OR MONEY high, low
compare wide, narrow
double deep, shallow
half, halve thick, thin
pair longer, shorter, taller, higher… and so on
count out, share out longest, shortest, tallest, highest… and so on
left, left over far, near, close
money MASS
coin weigh, weighs, balances
penny, pence, pound heavy/light, heavier/lighter, heaviest/lightest
price balance, scales, weight
cost
buy CAPACITY
sell
spend, spent full
pay half full
change empty
dear, costs more holds
cheap, costs less, cheaper container
costs the same as
how much…? how many…? TIME
total time
days of the week: Monday, Tuesday…
day, week
birthday, holiday
morning, afternoon, evening, night
bedtime, dinnertime, playtime
today, yesterday, tomorrow
before, after
next, last
now, soon, early, late
quick, quicker, quickest, quickly
slow, slower, slowest, slowly
old, older, oldest
new, newer, newest
takes longer, takes less time
hour, o’clock
clock, watch, hands
9
RECEPTION
EXPLORING PATTERNS, SHAPE AND SPACE POSITION, DIRECTION AND MOVEMENT

shape, pattern position
flat over, under
curved, straight above, below
round top, bottom, side
hollow, solid on, in
corner outside, inside
face, side, edge, end around
sort in front, behind
make, build, draw front, back
before, after
3D SHAPES beside, next to
cube opposite
pyramid apart
sphere between
cone middle, edge
corner
direction
2D SHAPES
left, right
circle up, down
triangle forwards, backwards, sideways
square across
rectangle close, far, near
star along
through
PATTERNS AND SYMMETRY to, from, towards, away from
size movement
bigger, larger, smaller slide
symmetrical roll
pattern turn
repeating pattern stretch, bend
match
10
RECEPTION
Instructions tick, cross

draw
listen draw a line between
join in join (up)
say ring
cost
think count
imagine work out
remember answer
check
start from
start with
start at
look at
General
point to same number/s
show me different number/s
put, place missing number/s
fit number facts
arrange number line, number track
rearrange number square
change, change over number cards
split counters, cubes, blocks, rods
separate die, dice
carry on, continue dominoes
repeat pegs, peg board
what comes next? same way, different way
find best way, another way
choose in order, in a different order
collect not
use all, every, each
make
build
tell me
describe
pick out
talk about
explain
show me
read
write
trace
copy
complete
finish, end
fill in
shade
colour
11
YEAR 1
Numbers Calculations
and the number system
ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION
COUNTING, PROPERTIES OF NUMBERS +, add, more, plus
make, sum, total
AND NUMBER SEQUENCES
altogether
number score
zero, one, two, three… to twenty and beyond double, near double
zero, ten, twenty… one hundred one more, two more… ten more
none how many more to make…?
how many…? how many more is… than…?
count, count (up) to how much more is…?
count on (from, to) −, subtract, take (away), minus
count back (from, to) leave
count in ones, twos… tens… how many are left/left over?
more, less, many, few how many have gone?
odd, even one less, two less, ten less…
every other how many fewer is… than…?
how many times? how much less is…?
pattern, pair difference between
half, halve
PLACE VALUE AND ORDERING =, equals, sign, is the same as
units, ones
tens
exchange
digit
‘teens’ number
equal to
greater, more, larger, bigger
less, fewer, smaller
greatest, most, biggest, largest
least, fewest, smallest
one more, ten more
one less, ten less
compare
order
size
first, second, third… tenth, eleventh… twentieth
last, last but one
before, after
next
between, half-way between
above, below
ESTIMATING
nearly, roughly, close to
about the same as
too many, too few, enough, not enough
Words new to Year 1 are in red 12

YEAR 1
Solving problems Organising and using data

MAKING DECISIONS AND REASONING count, sort, vote
pattern group, set
puzzle list
answer same, different
right, wrong table
what could we try next?
how did you work it out?
count out, share out, left, left over Measures, shape and space
number sentence
sign, operation MEASURES (GENERAL)
measure
MONEY size
money compare
coin guess, estimate
penny, pence, pound enough, not enough
price too much, too little
cost too many, too few
buy nearly, roughly, close to, about the same as
sell just over, just under
spend, spent
pay LENGTH
change
dear, costs more
long, short, tall
cheap, costs less, cheaper
high, low
costs the same as
wide, narrow
how much…? how many…?
deep, shallow
total
thick, thin
longer, shorter, taller, higher… and so on
longest, shortest, tallest, highest… and so on
far, near, close
metre
ruler, metre stick
MASS
weigh, weighs, balances
heavy/light, heavier/lighter, heaviest/lightest
balance, scales, weight
CAPACITY
full
half full
empty
holds
container
13 Words new to Year 1 are in red

YEAR 1
TIME PATTERNS AND SYMMETRY

time size
days of the week: Monday, Tuesday… bigger, larger, smaller
seasons: spring, summer, autumn, winter symmetrical
day, week, month, year pattern
weekend, birthday, holiday repeating pattern
morning, afternoon, evening match
night, midnight
bedtime, dinnertime, playtime POSITION, DIRECTION AND MOVEMENT
today, yesterday, tomorrow position
before, after over, under, underneath
next, last above, below
now, soon, early, late top, bottom, side
quick, quicker, quickest, quickly on, in
fast, faster, fastest outside, inside
slow, slower, slowest, slowly around
old, older, oldest in front, behind
new, newer, newest front, back
takes longer, takes less time before, after
hour, o’clock, half past beside, next to
clock, watch, hands opposite
how long ago? apart
how long will it be to…? between
how long will it take to…? middle, edge
how often? centre
always, never, often, sometimes, usually corner
once, twice direction
journey
SHAPE AND SPACE left, right
shape, pattern up, down
flat forwards, backwards, sideways
curved, straight across
round close, far, near
hollow, solid along
corner through
point, pointed to, from, towards, away from
face, side, edge, end movement
sort slide
make, build, draw roll
turn, whole turn, half turn
3D SHAPES stretch, bend
cube
cuboid
pyramid
sphere
cone
cylinder
2D SHAPES
circle
triangle
square
rectangle
star

YEAR 1
Instructions cost
count
listen work out
join in answer
say check
think
imagine
remember
General
start from same number/s
start with different number/s
start at missing number/s
number facts
look at
point to number line, number track
show me number square
number cards
put, place abacus
fit counters, cubes, blocks, rods
arrange die, dice
rearrange dominoes
change, change over pegs, peg board
split
separate same way, different way
best way, another way
carry on, continue in order, in a different order
repeat
what comes next? not
all, every, each
find
choose
collect
use
make
build
tell me
describe
pick out
talk about
explain
show me
read
write
record
trace
copy
complete
finish, end
fill in
shade
colour
tick, cross
draw
draw a line between
join (up)
ring
arrow

YEAR 2
Numbers ESTIMATING
and the number system nearly, roughly, close to
about the same as
COUNTING, PROPERTIES OF NUMBERS just over, just under
AND NUMBER SEQUENCES exact, exactly
number too many, too few, enough, not enough
zero, one, two, three… to twenty and beyond round, nearest, round to the nearest ten
zero, ten, twenty… one hundred
zero, one hundred, two hundred… one thousand FRACTIONS
none part, equal parts
how many…? fraction
count, count (up) to one whole
count on (from, to) one half, two halves
count back (from, to) one quarter, two… three… four quarters
count in ones, twos, threes, fours, fives…
count in tens
more, less, many, few
tally Calculations
odd, even
every other ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION
how many times? +, add, addition, more, plus
multiple of make, sum, total
sequence altogether
continue score
predict double, near double
pattern, pair, rule one more, two more... ten more... one hundred more
how many more to make…?
PLACE VALUE AND ORDERING how many more is… than…?
units, ones how much more is…?
tens, hundreds −, subtract, subtraction, take (away), minus
digit leave, how many are left/left over?
one-, two- or three-digit number one less, two less… ten less… one hundred less
‘teens’ number how many fewer is… than…?
place, place value how much less is…?
stands for, represents difference between
exchange half, halve
the same number as, as many as =, equals, sign, is the same as
equal to tens boundary
greater, more, larger, bigger MULTIPLICATION AND DIVISION
less, fewer, smaller lots of, groups of
Of three or more objects/amounts: ×, times, multiply, multiplied by
greatest, most, biggest, largest multiple of
least, fewest, smallest once, twice, three times… ten times…
one more, ten more times as (big, long, wide… and so on)
one less, ten less repeated addition
compare array
order row, column
size double, halve
first, second, third… tenth… twentieth share, share equally
twenty-first, twenty-second… one each, two each, three each…
last, last but one group in pairs, threes… tens
before, after equal groups of
next ÷, divide, divided by, divided into
between, half-way between left, left over
above, below

YEAR 2
Solving problems LENGTH

MAKING DECISIONS AND REASONING long, short, tall, high, low
wide, narrow, deep, shallow, thick, thin
pattern, puzzle
calculate, calculation
mental calculation
far, further, furthest, near, close
jotting
metre (m ), centimetre (c m )
answer
ruler, metre stick, tape measure
right, correct, wrong
what could we try next?
how did you work it out? MASS
number sentence weigh, weighs, balances
sign, operation, symbol heavy/light, heavier/lighter, heaviest/lightest
kilogram (k g ), half-kilogram, gram (g )
MONEY balance, scales, weight
money
coin CAPACITY
penny, pence, pound (£) capacity
price, cost full, half full
buy, bought, sell, sold empty
spend, spent holds, contains
pay litre (l ), half-litre, millilitre (m l )
change container
dear, costs more
cheap, costs less, cheaper TIME
how much…? how many…? time
total days of the week: Monday, Tuesday…
months of the year: January, February…
seasons: spring, summer, autumn, winter
Organising and using data day, week, fortnight, month, year
weekend, birthday, holiday
count, tally, sort, vote morning, afternoon, evening, night, midnight
graph, block graph, pictogram bedtime, dinnertime, playtime
represent today, yesterday, tomorrow
group, set before, after
same, different next, last
list, table now, soon, early, late
label, title quick, quicker, quickest, quickly
most popular, most common fast, faster, fastest
least popular, least common slow, slower, slowest, slowly
old, older, oldest
new, newer, newest
takes longer, takes less time
Measures, shape and space how long ago? how long will it be to…?
how long will it take to…?
MEASURES (GENERAL) hour, minute, second
measure o’clock, half past, quarter to, quarter past
size clock, watch, hands
compare digital/analogue clock/watch, timer
measuring scale how often?
guess, estimate always, never, often, sometimes, usually
enough, not enough once, twice
too much, too little
too many, too few
nearly, roughly, about, close to, about the same as

YEAR 2
SHAPE AND SPACE POSITION, DIRECTION AND MOVEMENT

shape, pattern position
flat, curved, straight over, under, underneath
round above, below
hollow, solid top, bottom, side
corner on, in
point, pointed outside, inside
face, side, edge, end around
sort in front, behind
make, build, draw front, back
surface before, after
beside, next to
3D SHAPES opposite
cube apart
cuboid between
pyramid middle, edge
sphere centre
cone corner
cylinder direction
journey, route
left, right
2D SHAPES
up, down
circle, circular higher, lower
triangle, triangular forwards, backwards, sideways
square across
rectangle, rectangular close, far, near
star along
pentagon through
hexagon to, from, towards, away from
octagon clockwise, anti-clockwise
movement
PATTERNS AND SYMMETRY slide
size roll
bigger, larger, smaller whole turn, half turn, quarter turn
symmetrical right angle
line of symmetry straight line
fold stretch, bend
match
mirror line, reflection
pattern
repeating pattern

YEAR 2
Instructions read
write
listen record
join in write in figures
say present
recite represent
trace
think copy
imagine complete
remember finish, end
start from fill in
start with shade, colour
start at label
look at tick, cross
point to draw
show me draw a line between
join (up)
put, place
ring
fit
arrow
arrange, rearrange
change, change over cost, count, tally
split
separate calculate
work out
carry on, continue solve
repeat answer
what comes next? check
predict
describe the pattern
describe the rule
General
find, find all, find different
investigate same, different
missing number/s
choose number facts
decide number pairs
collect number bonds
use
make number line, number track
build number square, hundred square
number cards
tell me number grid
describe abacus
name counters, cubes, blocks, rods
pick out die, dice
discuss dominoes
talk about pegs, peg board
explain geo-strips
explain your method
explain how you got your answer same way, different way
give an example of… best way, another way
show how you… in order, in a different order
not
all, every, each

YEAR 3
Numbers ESTIMATING
and the number system nearly, roughly, close to
approximate, approximately
COUNTING, PROPERTIES OF NUMBERS about the same as
AND NUMBER SEQUENCES just over, just under
number exact, exactly
zero, one, two, three… to twenty and beyond too many, too few, enough, not enough
zero, ten, twenty… one hundred round (up or down)
zero, one hundred, two hundred… one thousand nearest, round to the nearest ten
none
how many…? FRACTIONS
count, count (up) to part, equal parts
count on (from, to) fraction
count back (from, to) one whole
count in ones, twos, threes, fours, fives… one half, two halves
count in tens, hundreds one quarter, two… three… four quarters
more, less, many, few one third, two thirds, three thirds
tally one tenth
odd, even
every other
how many times?
multiple of Calculations
sequence
continue ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION
predict +, add, addition, more, plus
pattern, pair, rule make, sum, total
relationship altogether
score
PLACE VALUE AND ORDERING double, near double
units, ones one more, two more... ten more... one hundred more
tens, hundreds how many more to make…?
digit how many more is… than…?
one-, two- or three-digit number how much more is…?
‘teens’ number −, subtract, subtraction, take (away), minus
place, place value leave, how many are left/left over?
stands for, represents one less, two less… ten less… one hundred less
exchange how many fewer is… than…?
the same number as, as many as how much less is…?
equal to difference between
Of two objects/amounts: half, halve
greater, more, larger, bigger =, equals, sign, is the same as
less, fewer, smaller tens boundary, hundreds boundary
greatest, most, biggest, largest MULTIPLICATION AND DIVISION
least, fewest, smallest lots of, groups of
one more, ten more, one hundred more ×, times, multiply, multiplication, multiplied by
one less, ten less, one hundred less multiple of, product
compare once, twice, three times… ten times…
order times as (big, long, wide… and so on)
size repeated addition
first, second, third… tenth… twentieth array
twenty-first, twenty-second… row, column
last, last but one double, halve
before, after share, share equally
next one each, two each, three each…
above, below

YEAR 3
group in pairs, threes… tens Measures, shape and space

equal groups of
÷, divide, division, divided by, divided into
MEASURES (GENERAL)
left, left over, remainder
measure
size
compare
Solving problems measuring scale, division
guess, estimate
MAKING DECISIONS AND REASONING enough, not enough
pattern, puzzle too much, too little
calculate, calculation too many, too few
mental calculation nearly, roughly, about, close to,
method about the same as, approximately
jotting just over, just under
answer
right, correct, wrong LENGTH
what could we try next? length, width, height, depth
how did you work it out? long, short, tall, high, low
number sentence wide, narrow, deep, shallow, thick, thin
sign, operation, symbol, equation longer, shorter, taller, higher… and so on
MONEY far, further, furthest, near, close
money distance apart/between, distance to… from…
coin, note kilometre (k m ), metre (m ), centimetre (c m )
penny, pence, pound (£) mile
price, cost ruler, metre stick, tape measure
buy, bought, sell, sold
spend, spent MASS
pay weigh, weighs, balances
change heavy/light, heavier/lighter, heaviest/lightest
dear, costs more, more/most expensive kilogram (k g ), half-kilogram, gram (g )
cheap, costs less, cheaper, less/least expensive balance, scales, weight
total, amount
CAPACITY
value, worth
capacity
full, half full
empty
Handling data holds, contains
litre (l ), half-litre, millilitre (m l )
count, tally, sort, vote container
graph, block graph, pictogram
represent TIME
group, set
list, chart, bar chart time
table, frequency table days of the week: Monday, Tuesday…
Carroll diagram, Venn diagram months of the year: January, February…
label, title, axis, axes seasons: spring, summer, autumn, winter
diagram day, week, fortnight, month, year, century
most popular, most common weekend, birthday, holiday
least popular, least common calendar, date
morning, afternoon, evening, night, midnight
am, pm
bedtime, dinnertime, playtime
today, yesterday, tomorrow

YEAR 3
before, after PATTERNS AND SYMMETRY

next, last size
now, soon, early, late, earliest, latest bigger, larger, smaller
quick, quicker, quickest, quickly symmetrical
fast, faster, fastest line of symmetry
slow, slower, slowest, slowly fold
old, older, oldest match
new, newer, newest mirror line, reflection
takes longer, takes less time pattern
how long ago? how long will it be to…? repeating pattern
how long will it take to…?
hour, minute, second
POSITION, DIRECTION AND MOVEMENT
o’clock, half past, quarter to, quarter past
clock, watch, hands position
digital/analogue clock/watch, timer over, under, underneath
how often? above, below
always, never, often, sometimes, usually top, bottom, side
once, twice on, in
outside, inside
around
SHAPE AND SPACE
in front, behind
shape, pattern front, back
flat, curved, straight before, after
round beside, next to
hollow, solid opposite
corner apart
point, pointed between
face, side, edge, end middle, edge
sort centre
make, build, draw corner
surface direction
right-angled journey, route, map, plan
vertex, vertices left, right
layer, diagram up, down
higher, lower
3D SHAPES forwards, backwards, sideways
cube across
cuboid close, far, near
pyramid along
sphere, hemi-sphere through
cone to, from, towards, away from
cylinder ascend, descend
prism grid
row, column
2D SHAPES clockwise, anti-clockwise
compass point
circle, circular, semi-circle
north, south, east, west (N, S, E, W)
triangle, triangular
horizontal, vertical
square
diagonal
rectangle, rectangular
movement
star
slide
pentagon, pentagonal
roll
hexagon, hexagonal
whole turn, half turn, quarter turn
octagon, octagonal
angle, …is a greater/smaller angle than
quadrilateral
right angle
straight line
stretch, bend

YEAR 3
Instructions present
represent
listen interpret
join in trace
say copy
recite complete
finish, end
think
imagine fill in
remember shade, colour
label
start from
start with tick, cross
start at draw, sketch
draw a line between
look at join (up)
point to ring
show me arrow
put, place cost, count, tally
fit
arrange, rearrange calculate
change, change over work out
split solve
separate investigate
question
carry on, continue answer
repeat check
what comes next?
predict
describe the pattern
describe the rule
General
find, find all, find different same, different
investigate missing number/s
number facts, number pairs, number bonds
choose greatest value, least value
decide
collect number line, number track
number square, hundred square
use number cards
make number grid
build abacus
tell me counters, cubes, blocks, rods
describe die, dice
name dominoes
pick out pegs, peg board
discuss geo-strips
talk about same way, different way
explain best way, another way
explain your method in order, in a different order
explain how you got your answer
give an example of… not
show how you… all, every, each
show your working
read
write
record
write in figures

YEAR 4
Numbers FRACTIONS AND DECIMALS

part, equal parts
and the number system fraction
one whole
PLACE VALUE, ORDERING AND ROUNDING half, quarter, eighth
units, ones third, sixth
tens, hundreds, thousands fifth, tenth, twentieth
ten thousand, hundred thousand, million proportion, in every, for every
digit, one-, two-, three- or four-digit number decimal, decimal fraction
numeral decimal point, decimal place
‘teens’ number
place, place value
stands for, represents
exchange
Calculations
equal to ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION
Of two objects/amounts: add, addition, more, plus, increase
>, greater than, more than, larger than, bigger than sum, total, altogether
<, less than, fewer than, smaller than score
Of three or more objects/amounts: double, near double
greatest, most, largest, biggest how many more to make…?
least, fewest, smallest subtract, subtraction, take (away), minus, decrease
one… ten… one hundred… one thousand more/less leave, how many are left/left over?
compare, order, size difference between
first… tenth… twentieth half, halve
last, last but one how many more/fewer is… than…?
before, after how much more/less is…?
next equals, sign, is the same as
between, half-way between tens boundary, hundreds boundary
guess how many, estimate inverse
nearly, roughly, close to, about the same as
approximate, approximately MULTIPLICATION AND DIVISION
just over, just under lots of, groups of
exact, exactly times, multiply, multiplication, multiplied by
too many, too few, enough, not enough multiple of, product
round (up or down), nearest once, twice, three times… ten times…
round to the nearest ten times as (big, long, wide… and so on)
round to the nearest hundred repeated addition
integer, positive, negative array
above/below zero, minus row, column
double, halve
PROPERTIES OF NUMBERS AND NUMBER share, share equally
SEQUENCES one each, two each, three each…
number, count, how many…? group in pairs, threes… tens
odd, even equal groups of
every other divide, division, divided by, divided into
how many times? remainder
multiple of factor, quotient, divisible by
digit inverse
next, consecutive
sequence
continue
predict
pattern, pair, rule
relationship
sort, classify, property

YEAR 4
Solving problems measuring scale, division

guess, estimate
enough, not enough
MAKING DECISIONS AND REASONING
too much, too little
pattern, puzzle too many, too few
calculate, calculation nearly, roughly, about, close to
mental calculation about the same as, approximately
method just over, just under
jotting
answer LENGTH
what could we try next? length, width, height, depth, breadth
how did you work it out? long, short, tall, high, low
number sentence wide, narrow, deep, shallow, thick, thin
sign, operation, symbol, equation longer, shorter, taller, higher… and so on
far, further, furthest, near, close
MONEY
distance apart/between, distance to… from…
money edge, perimeter
coin, note kilometre (k m ), metre (m )
penny, pence, pound (£ ) centimetre (c m ), millimetre (m m )
price, cost mile
buy, bought, sell, sold ruler, metre stick, tape measure
spend, spent
pay MASS
change
dear, costs more, more/most expensive mass: big, bigger, small, smaller, balances
cheap, costs less, cheaper, less/least expensive weight: heavy/light, heavier/lighter, heaviest/lightest
how much…? how many…? weigh, weighs
total, amount kilogram (k g ), half-kilogram, gram (g )
value, worth balance, scales
CAPACITY
capacity
Handling data full, half full
count, tally, sort, vote empty
survey, questionnaire, data holds, contains
graph, block graph, pictogram litre (l ), half-litre, millilitre (m l )
represent pint
group, set container, measuring cylinder
list, chart, bar chart, tally chart
table, frequency table AREA
Carroll diagram, Venn diagram area, covers, surface
label, title, axis, axes square centimetre (c m 2 )
diagram
most popular, most common
TIME
least popular, least common
time
days of the week: Monday, Tuesday…
months of the year: January, February…
Measures, shape and space seasons: spring, summer, autumn, winter
day, week, fortnight, month
MEASURES (GENERAL) year, leap year, century, millennium
measure, measurement weekend, birthday, holiday
size calendar, date, date of birth
compare morning, afternoon, evening, night
unit, standard unit
metric unit, imperial unit

YEAR 4
am, pm, noon, midnight square

today, yesterday, tomorrow rectangle, rectangular, oblong
before, after, next, last pentagon, pentagonal
now, soon, early, late, earliest, latest hexagon, hexagonal
quick, quicker, quickest, quickly heptagon
fast, faster, fastest, slow, slower, slowest, slowly octagon, octagonal
old, older, oldest, new, newer, newest polygon
takes longer, takes less time quadrilateral
how long ago? how long will it be to…?
how long will it take to…? PATTERNS AND SYMMETRY
timetable, arrive, depart size
hour, minute, second bigger, larger, smaller
o’clock, half past, quarter to, quarter past symmetrical
clock, watch, hands line of symmetry, line symmetry
digital/analogue clock/watch, timer fold
how often? match
always, never, often, sometimes, usually mirror line, reflection, reflect
pattern, repeating pattern, translation
SHAPE AND SPACE
shape, pattern POSITION, DIRECTION AND MOVEMENT
flat, line position
curved, straight over, under, underneath
round above, below, top, bottom, side
hollow, solid on, in, outside, inside, around
corner in front, behind, front, back
point, pointed before, after, beside, next to
face, side, edge, end opposite, apart
sort between, middle, edge, centre
make, build, construct, draw, sketch corner
centre, radius, diameter direction
net journey, route, map, plan
surface left, right
angle, right-angled up, down, higher, lower
base, square-based forwards, backwards, sideways, across
vertex, vertices close, far, near
layer, diagram along, through, to, from, towards, away from
regular, irregular ascend, descend
concave, convex grid
open, closed row, column
origin, coordinates
3D SHAPES clockwise, anti-clockwise
3D, three-dimensional compass point, north, south, east, west (N, S, E, W)
cube north-east, north-west, south-east, south-west
cuboid (NE, NW, SE, SW)
pyramid horizontal, vertical, diagonal
sphere, hemi-sphere, spherical movement
cone slide, roll
cylinder, cylindrical whole turn, half turn, quarter turn, rotate
prism angle, …is a greater/smaller angle than
tetrahedron, polyhedron right angle
degree
2D SHAPES straight line
2D, two-dimensional stretch, bend
circle, circular, semi-circle ruler, set square
triangle, triangular angle measurer, compasses
equilateral triangle, isosceles triangle

YEAR 4
Instructions General
listen, join in, say, recite same, different
think, imagine, remember missing number/s
start from, start with, start at number facts, number pairs, number bonds
look at, point to, show me greatest value, least value
put, place number line, number track
arrange, rearrange number square, hundred square
change, change over number cards, number grid
split, separate abacus
counters, cubes, blocks, rods
carry on, continue, repeat die, dice
what comes next? predict dominoes
describe the pattern, describe the rule pegs, peg board, pin board
find, find all, find different geo-strips
investigate same way, different way
choose, decide best way, another way
collect in order, in a different order
use, make, build, construct not

all, every, each
tell me, describe, name, pick out
discuss, talk about
explain
explain your method
explain how you got your answer
give an example of…
show how you…
show your working
justify
make a statement
read, write, record

write in figures
present, represent
interpret
trace, copy
complete, finish, end
fill in, shade, colour

label, plot
tick, cross
draw, sketch
draw a line between, join (up), ring, arrow
cost, count, tally
calculate, work out, solve
investigate, question
answer
check

YEAR 5
Numbers pattern, pair, rule

relationship
and the number system sort, classify, property
formula
divisible (by), divisibility, factor
PLACE VALUE, ORDERING AND ROUNDING
square number
2 2
units, ones one squared, two squared… (1 , 2 …)
tens, hundreds, thousands
ten thousand, hundred thousand, million FRACTIONS, DECIMALS, PERCENTAGES,
digit, one-, two-, three- or four-digit number
RATIO AND PROPORTION
numeral
‘teens’ number part, equal parts
place, place value fraction, proper/improper fraction
stands for, represents mixed number
exchange numerator, denominator
the same number as, as many as equivalent, reduced to, cancel
equal to one whole
Of two objects/amounts: half, quarter, eighth
>, greater than, more than, larger than, bigger than third, sixth, ninth, twelfth
<, less than, fewer than, smaller than fifth, tenth, twentieth, hundredth
≥, greater than or equal to proportion, ratio
≤, less than or equal to in every, for every
Of three or more objects/amounts: to every, as many as
greatest, most, largest, biggest decimal, decimal fraction
least, fewest, smallest decimal point, decimal place
one… ten… one hundred… one thousand more/less percentage, per cent, %
compare, order, size
ascending/descending order
first… tenth… twentieth Calculations
last, last but one
before, after, next
ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION
guess how many, estimate add, addition, more, plus, increase
nearly, roughly, close to, about the same as sum, total, altogether
approximate, approximately score
≈, is approximately equal to double, near double
just over, just under how many more to make…?
exact, exactly subtract, subtraction, take (away), minus, decrease
too many, too few, enough, not enough leave, how many are left/left over?
round (up or down), nearest difference between
round to the nearest ten/hundred half, halve
round to the nearest thousand how many more/fewer is… than…?
integer how much more/less is…?
positive, negative equals, sign, is the same as
above/below zero, minus tens boundary, hundreds boundary
units boundary, tenths boundary
inverse
PROPERTIES OF NUMBERS AND NUMBER
SEQUENCES
MULTIPLICATION AND DIVISION
number, count, how many…?
lots of, groups of
odd, even
times, multiply, multiplication, multiplied by
every other
multiple of, product
how many times?
once, twice, three times… ten times…
multiple of
times as (big, long, wide… and so on)
digit
repeated addition
next, consecutive
array
sequence
row, column
continue
double, halve
predict
share, share equally

YEAR 5
one each, two each, three each… table, frequency table

group in pairs, threes… tens Carroll diagram, Venn diagram
equal groups of label, title, axis, axes
divide, division, divided by, divided into diagram
remainder most popular, most common
factor, quotient, divisible by least popular, least common
inverse mode, range
maximum/minimum value
USING A CALCULATOR classify, outcome
calculator
display, key, enter, clear PROBABILITY
constant fair, unfair
likely, unlikely, likelihood
certain, uncertain
probable, possible, impossible
Solving problems chance, good chance
poor chance, no chance
MAKING DECISIONS AND REASONING risk, doubt
pattern, puzzle
calculate, calculation
mental calculation
method, strategy Measures, shape and space
jotting
answer MEASURES (GENERAL)
right, correct, wrong measure, measurement
what could we try next? size
how did you work it out? compare
number sentence unit, standard unit
sign, operation, symbol, equation metric unit, imperial unit
measuring scale, division
MONEY guess, estimate
money enough, not enough
coin, note too much, too little
penny, pence, pound (£) too many, too few
price, cost nearly, roughly, about, close to
buy, bought, sell, sold about the same as, approximately
spend, spent just over, just under
pay
change LENGTH
dear, costs more, more/most expensive length, width, height, depth, breadth
cheap, costs less, cheaper, less/least expensive long, short, tall, high, low
how much…? how many…? wide, narrow, deep, shallow, thick, thin
total, amount, value, worth longer, shorter, taller, higher… and so on
discount longest, shortest, tallest, highest… and so on
currency far, further, furthest, near, close
edge, perimeter
kilometre (k m ), metre (m )
Handling data centimetre (c m ), millimetre (m m )
mile
count, tally, sort, vote
ruler, metre stick, tape measure
survey, questionnaire
data, database
graph, block graph, line graph MASS
pictogram, mass: big, bigger, small, smaller, balances
represent weight: heavy/light, heavier/lighter, heaviest/lightest
group, set weigh, weighs
list, chart, bar chart, bar line chart kilogram (k g ), half-kilogram, gram (g )
tally chart balance, scales

YEAR 5
CAPACITY SHAPE AND SPACE

capacity shape, pattern
full, half full flat, line
empty curved, straight
holds, contains round
litre (l ), half-litre, millilitre (m l ) hollow, solid
pint, gallon corner
container, measuring cylinder point, pointed
face, side, edge, end
AREA sort
area, covers, surface make, build, construct, draw, sketch
square centimetre (c m 2 ), square metre (m 2 ) centre, radius, diameter
square millimetre (m m 2 ) net
surface
angle, right-angled
TIME
congruent
time base, square-based
days of the week: Monday, Tuesday… vertex, vertices
months of the year: January, February… layer, diagram
seasons: spring, summer, autumn, winter regular, irregular
day, week, fortnight, month concave, convex
year, leap year, century, millennium open, closed
weekend, birthday, holiday
calendar, date, date of birth 3D SHAPES
am, pm, noon, midnight 3D, three-dimensional
today, yesterday, tomorrow cube, cuboid
before, after, next, last pyramid
now, soon, early, late, earliest, latest sphere, hemi-sphere, spherical
quick, quicker, quickest, quickly cone
fast, faster, fastest, slow, slower, slowest, slowly cylinder, cylindrical
old, older, oldest, new, newer, newest prism
takes longer, takes less time tetrahedron, polyhedron, octahedron
how long ago? how long will it be to…?
how long will it take to…? 2D SHAPES
timetable, arrive, depart 2D, two-dimensional
hour, minute, second circle, circular, semi-circle
o’clock, half past, quarter to, quarter past triangle, triangular
clock, watch, hands equilateral triangle, isosceles triangle, scalene triangle
digital/analogue clock/watch, timer square
24-hour clock, 12-hour clock rectangle, rectangular, oblong
how often? pentagon, pentagonal
always, never, often, sometimes, usually hexagon, hexagonal
heptagon
octagon, octagonal
polygon
quadrilateral
PATTERNS AND SYMMETRY

size
bigger, larger, smaller
symmetrical
line of symmetry, axis of symmetry
line symmetry, reflective symmetry
fold
match
mirror line, reflection, reflect
pattern, repeating pattern, translation

YEAR 5
POSITION, DIRECTION AND MOVEMENT choose, decide

position collect
over, under, underneath use, make, build, construct, bisect
above, below, top, bottom, side
on, in, outside, inside, around tell me, describe, name, pick out, identify
in front, behind, front, back discuss, talk about
before, after, beside, next to explain
opposite, apart explain your method/answer/reasoning
between, middle, edge, centre give an example of…
corner show how you…
direction show your working
journey, route, map, plan justify
left, right make a statement
up, down, higher, lower
read, write, record
forwards, backwards, sideways, across
write in figures
close, far, near
present, represent
along, through, to, from, towards, away from
interpret
ascend, descend
trace, copy
grid, row, column
origin, coordinates
clockwise, anti-clockwise fill in, shade, colour
compass point, north, south, east, west (N, S, E, W) label, plot
north-east, north-west, south-east, south-west
(NE, NW, SE, SW) tick, cross
horizontal, vertical, diagonal draw, sketch
parallel, perpendicular draw a line between, join (up), ring, arrow
x-axis, y-axis cost, count, tally
quadrant
movement calculate, work out, solve, convert
slide, roll investigate, question
whole turn, half turn, quarter turn answer
rotate, rotation check
angle, …is a greater/smaller angle than
right angle, acute, obtuse
degree General
straight line
stretch, bend same, different
ruler, set square missing number/s
angle measurer, compasses, protractor number facts, number pairs, number bonds
greatest value, least value
number line, number track
Instructions number square, hundred square
number cards, number grid
listen, join in, say, recite abacus
think, imagine, remember counters, cubes, blocks, rods
start from, start with, start at die, dice, spinner
look at, point to, show me dominoes
put, place pegs, peg board, pin board
arrange, rearrange geo-strips
change, change over same way, different way
split, separate best way, another way
carry on, continue, repeat in order, in a different order
what comes next? predict not
describe the pattern, describe the rule all, every, each
investigate

YEAR 6
Numbers relationship
sort, classify, property
and the number system formula
divisible (by), divisibility, factor, factorise
PLACE VALUE, ORDERING AND ROUNDING square number
2 2
units, ones one squared, two squared… (1 , 2 …)

tens, hundreds, thousands prime, prime factor
ten thousand, hundred thousand, million
digit, one-, two-, three- or four-digit number FRACTIONS, DECIMALS, PERCENTAGES,
numeral RATIO AND PROPORTION
‘teens’ number part, equal parts
place, place value fraction, proper/improper fraction
stands for, represents mixed number
exchange numerator, denominator
the same number as, as many as equivalent, reduced to, cancel
equal to one whole
Of two objects/amounts: half, quarter, eighth
>, greater than, more than, larger than, bigger than third, sixth, ninth, twelfth
<, less than, fewer than, smaller than fifth, tenth, twentieth
≥, greater than or equal to hundredth, thousandth
≤, less than or equal to proportion, ratio
Of three or more objects/amounts: in every, for every
greatest, most, largest, biggest to every, as many as
least, fewest, smallest decimal, decimal fraction
one… ten… one hundred… one thousand more/less decimal point, decimal place
compare, order, size percentage, per cent, %
ascending/descending order
first… tenth… twentieth
last, last but one
before, after Calculations
next
between, half-way between ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION
guess how many, estimate add, addition, more, plus, increase
nearly, roughly, close to, about the same as sum, total, altogether
approximate, approximately score
≈, is approximately equal to double, near double
just over, just under how many more to make…?
exact, exactly subtract, subtraction, take (away), minus, decrease
too many, too few, enough, not enough leave, how many are left/left over?
round (up or down), nearest difference between
round to the nearest ten/hundred/thousand half, halve
integer, positive, negative how many more/fewer is… than…?
above/below zero, minus how much more/less is…?
equals, sign, is the same as
PROPERTIES OF NUMBERS AND NUMBER tens boundary, hundreds boundary
SEQUENCES units boundary, tenths boundary
number, count, how many…? inverse
odd, even
every other MULTIPLICATION AND DIVISION
how many times? lots of, groups of
multiple of times, multiply, multiplication, multiplied by
digit multiple of, product
next, consecutive once, twice, three times… ten times…
sequence times as (big, long, wide… and so on)
continue repeated addition
predict array, row, column
pattern, pair, rule double, halve

YEAR 6
share, share equally list, chart, bar chart, bar line chart
one each, two each, three each… tally chart
group in pairs, threes… tens table, frequency table
equal groups of Carroll diagram, Venn diagram
divide, division, divided by, divided into label, title, axis, axes
remainder diagram
factor, quotient, divisible by most popular, most common
inverse least popular, least common
mode, range, mean, average, median
USING A CALCULATOR statistics, distribution
calculator, display, key maximum/minimum value
enter, clear, sign change classify, outcome
constant, recurring, memory, operation key
PROBABILITY
fair, unfair
likely, unlikely, likelihood, equally likely
Solving problems certain, uncertain
probable, possible, impossible
MAKING DECISIONS AND REASONING chance, good chance,
pattern, puzzle poor chance, no chance
calculate, calculation equal chance, even chance, fifty-fifty chance
mental calculation risk, doubt
method, strategy biased, random
jotting
answer
what could we try next? Measures, shape and space
how did you work it out?
number sentence MEASURES (GENERAL)
sign, operation, symbol, equation measure, measurement
size
MONEY compare
money unit, standard unit
coin, note metric unit, imperial unit
penny, pence, pound (£) measuring scale, division
price, cost guess, estimate
buy, bought, sell, sold enough, not enough
spend, spent too much, too little
pay too many, too few
change nearly, roughly, about, close to
dear, costs more, more/most expensive about the same as, approximately
cheap, costs less, cheaper, less/least expensive just over, just under
total, amount, value, worth LENGTH
discount, profit, loss length, width, height, depth, breadth
currency long, short, tall, high, low
wide, narrow, deep, shallow, thick, thin
Handling data far, further, furthest, near, close
count, tally, sort, vote
edge, perimeter, circumference
survey, questionnaire
kilometre (k m ), metre (m )
data, database
centimetre (c m ), millimetre (m m )
graph, block graph, line graph
mile, yard, feet, foot, inches, inch
pictogram,
ruler, metre stick, tape measure, compasses
represent
group, set

YEAR 6
MASS hollow, solid

mass: big, bigger, small, smaller, balances corner
weight: heavy/light, heavier/lighter, heaviest/lightest point, pointed
weigh, weighs face, side, edge, end
tonne, kilogram (k g ), half-kilogram, gram (g ) sort
pound (l b ), ounce (o z ) make, build, construct, draw, sketch
balance, scales centre, radius, diameter
circumference, concentric, arc
net
CAPACITY
surface
capacity angle, right-angled
full, half full, empty congruent
holds, contains intersecting, intersection
litre (l ), half-litre, centilitre (c l ), millilitre (m l ) plane
pint, gallon base, square-based
container, measuring cylinder vertex, vertices
layer, diagram
AREA regular, irregular
area, covers, surface concave, convex
square centimetre (c m 2 ), square metre (m 2 ) open, closed
square millimetre (m m 2 ) tangram
TIME 3D SHAPES
time 3D, three-dimensional
days of the week: Monday, Tuesday… cube, cuboid
months of the year: January, February… pyramid
seasons: spring, summer, autumn, winter sphere, hemi-sphere, spherical
day, week, fortnight, month cone
year, leap year, century, millennium cylinder, cylindrical
weekend, birthday, holiday prism
calendar, date, date of birth tetrahedron, polyhedron, octahedron, dodecahedron
am, pm, noon, midnight 2D SHAPES
today, yesterday, tomorrow 2D, two-dimensional
before, after, next, last circle, circular, semi-circle
now, soon, early, late, earliest, latest triangle, triangular
quick, quicker, quickest, quickly equilateral triangle, isosceles triangle, scalene triangle
fast, faster, fastest, slow, slower, slowest, slowly square, rhombus
old, older, oldest, new, newer, newest rectangle, rectangular, oblong
takes longer, takes less time pentagon, pentagonal
how long ago? how long will it be to…? hexagon, hexagonal
how long will it take to…? heptagon
timetable, arrive, depart octagon, octagonal
hour, minute, second polygon
o’clock, half past, quarter to, quarter past quadrilateral
clock, watch, hands kite
digital/analogue clock/watch, timer parallelogram, trapezium
24-hour clock, 12-hour clock
Greenwich Mean Time, British Summer Time
PATTERNS AND SYMMETRY
International Date Line
how often? size
always, never, often, sometimes, usually bigger, larger, smaller
symmetrical
line of symmetry, axis of symmetry
SHAPE AND SPACE
line symmetry, reflective symmetry
shape, pattern fold
flat, line match
curved, straight mirror line, reflection, reflect
round pattern, repeating pattern, translation

YEAR 6
POSITION, DIRECTION AND MOVEMENT choose, decide

position collect
over, under, underneath use, make, build, construct, bisect
above, below, top, bottom, side
on, in, outside, inside, around tell me, define, describe, name, pick out, identify
in front, behind, front, back discuss, talk about
before, after, beside, next to explain
opposite, apart explain your method/answer/reasoning
between, middle, edge, centre give an example of…
corner show how you…
direction show your working
journey, route, map, plan justify
left, right make a statement
up, down, higher, lower
read, write, record
forwards, backwards, sideways, across
write in figures
close, far, near
present, represent
along, through, to, from, towards, away from
interpret
ascend, descend
trace, copy
grid, row, column
origin, coordinates
clockwise, anti-clockwise fill in, shade, colour
compass point, north, south, east, west (N, S, E, W) label, plot
north-east, north-west, south-east, south-west
(NE, NW, SE, SW) tick, cross
horizontal, vertical, diagonal draw, sketch
parallel, perpendicular draw a line between, join (up), ring, arrow
x-axis, y-axis cost, count, tally
quadrant
movement calculate, work out, solve, convert
slide, roll investigate, interrogate (data), question, prove
whole turn, half turn, quarter turn, rotate, rotation answer
angle, …is a greater/smaller angle than check
right angle, acute, obtuse, reflex
degree
straight line
stretch, bend General
ruler, set square
angle measurer, compasses, protractor same, identical, different
missing number/s
number facts, number pairs, number bonds
greatest value, least value
Instructions
number line, number track
listen, join in, say, recite number square, hundred square
think, imagine, remember number cards, number grid
start from, start with, start at abacus
look at, point to, show me counters, cubes, blocks, rods
die, dice, spinner
put, place dominoes
arrange, rearrange pegs, peg board, pin board
change, change over geo-strips
adjusting, adjust
split, separate same way, different way
best way, another way
carry on, continue, repeat in order, in a different order
what comes next? predict
describe the pattern, describe the rule not
all, every, each
investigate

Mathematical dictionaries
Every classroom needs a mathematical dictionary, suited to the age of the children. This could either
be a published version, or one which the children have made themselves. As well as being useful
for children to look up the meanings of words, it will be on hand when the teacher needs to refer to
a mathematical dictionary.
36

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Prolog ref no. DfEE 0313/2000

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Curriculum & Standards

Mathematical Headteachers &

Vocabulary Primary schools

Who is this book for?

This booklet will be of particular interest to you if you are:

a member of staff supporting pupils learning English as an additional language

a special needs teacher or assistant

a classroom assistant working with pupils in mathematics lessons

a parent or other adult supporting children in class or at home

Why is the book needed?

Their lack of response may be because:

they do not understand the spoken or written instructions,

they are not familiar with the mathematical vocabulary,

they may be confused about mathematical terms,

they may be confused about other words,

Using and Applying Mathematics is integrated throughout.

How do children develop their understanding of

– listen to adults and other children using the words correctly

– acquire confidence and fluency in speaking, using complete sentences that

– describe, define and compare mathematical properties, positions, methods,

– discuss ways of tackling a problem, collecting data, organising their work…

– hypothesise or make predictions about possible results

– generalise, or describe examples that match a general statement

reading aloud and silently, sometimes as a whole class and sometimes

– instructions and explanations in workbooks, textbooks, CD-ROMs…

– labels and captions on classroom displays, in diagrams, graphs, charts and

– definitions in illustrated dictionaries, including dictionaries that they themselves

writing and recording in a variety of ways, progressing from words,

– writing formulae, first using words, then symbols

– sketching and labelling diagrams in order to clarify their meaning

Designing and comparing procedures

Closed questions Open questions

Count these cubes. How could we count these cubes?

What is 6 – 4? Tell me two numbers with a difference of 2.

What is 2 + 6 – 3? What numbers can you make with 2, 3 and 6?

Is 16 an even number? What even numbers lie between 10 and 20?

Write a number in each box so 3 9 Write a number in each circle so

What is 7 x 6? If 7 x 6 = 42, what else can you work out?

Continue this sequence: 1, 2, 4… Find different ways of continuing this sequence:

What is 10% of 300? Find ways of completing: …% of … = 30

What is this shape called? Sketch some different triangles.

°C This graph shows °C

Ask children who are getting started

Did you use any new words today? What do they

What are the key points or ideas that you need to

Counting and recognising Adding and subtracting

COMPARING AND ORDERING NUMBERS

Solving problems Measures, shape and space

EXPLORING PATTERNS, SHAPE AND SPACE POSITION, DIRECTION AND MOVEMENT

Instructions tick, cross

Words new to Year 1 are in red 12

Solving problems Organising and using data

13 Words new to Year 1 are in red

TIME PATTERNS AND SYMMETRY

Words new to Year 1 are in red 14

15 Words new to Year 1 are in red

Words new to Year 2 are in red 16

Solving problems LENGTH

17 Words new to Year 2 are in red

SHAPE AND SPACE POSITION, DIRECTION AND MOVEMENT