Number Sense Growth

Overview

This is a comprehensive 650-minute Mathematics unit designed for Year 2 students in South Australia, focusing on addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and fractions. The unit aligns closely with the South Australian Curriculum standards and elaborations and integrates culturally relevant connections to First Nations Australians' stories to enrich learning.

This plan suits a small class of 2 students, ensuring personalised pacing, ample engagement, and concrete mastery of concepts appropriate for this age group, with structured breaks and assessment moments for formative feedback.

Learning Objectives (South Australian Curriculum Reference)

Add and subtract one- and two-digit numbers using a variety of strategies and represent problems with number sentences.
Multiply and divide by one-digit numbers using repeated addition, arrays, and partitioning to understand grouping and sharing.
Recognise and describe fractions as parts of a whole and represent them using concrete materials (aligned with cross-year concept, carefully adapted for Year 2).
Represent addition and subtraction problems using bar modelling and number sentences.
Solve practical problems involving these operations using physical and virtual materials.
Connect mathematical concepts with First Nations Australians’ stories, reinforcing the cultural context and mathematical balance (AC9M2N04_E6, AC9M2N05_E4, AC9M2N05_E1).

Time Allocation Breakdown (Total: 650 minutes)

Activity	Duration (minutes)	Description
Warm-Up & Counting Games	30	Engage with number recognition and subitising to 100, using cards, dice, or counters.
Addition and Subtraction Concepts	90	Explore addition and subtraction using physical objects and part-part-whole models with focus on mental strategies and number sentences.
Break	15	Movement and hydration
Multiplication Introduction	75	Use arrays and repeated addition to understand multiplication, with hands-on activities making arrays and naming groups.
Division Basics & Equal Sharing	75	Introduce division as sharing and grouping through story-based problems and Think Boards.
Break	20	Quiet time and snack
Fractions Exploration	75	Model simple fractions (1/2, 1/4) using paper folding, pizza fractions, and physical materials. Emphasise ‘part of a whole’ concept.
Integrated Story Problem Solving	65	Use bar models and number sentences to connect operations to word problems — e.g., shopping scenarios, sharing treats (AC9M2N04_E3, AC9M2N05_E4).
Culturally Relevant Maths	40	Explore First Nations Australians’ stories and dances that illustrate addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division concepts, reinforcing balance and relationships (AC9M2N04_E6, AC9M2N05_E4).
Formative Assessment & Reflection	45	Individual and joint reflections, use Think Boards, simple quizzes, and observe use of strategies. Confirm understanding of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and fractions.

Detailed Activities and Strategies

Warm-Up & Counting Games (30 mins)

Use number cards 0–100, dice games, and digital apps to build fluency in counting forwards and backwards.
Subitising drills with dice dots and counters to 20; use rapid flash cards and 'number talks' to discuss quantities mentally.

Addition & Subtraction (90 mins)

Physical objects (blocks, counters) to demonstrate addition and subtraction within 20 and 100.
Use part-part-whole diagrams and bar models to visualise addition and subtraction (e.g., 56 + 37 by splitting into tens and ones).
Mental strategies: doubles, near doubles, bridging to 10.
Writing number sentences to represent problems.
Encourage students to verbalise their thinking aloud.
Scaffolded challenges: from simple sums to two-digit problems.
Incorporate real-world situations — “I had $100, spent $38 and $15. How much left?”

Multiplication Introduction (75 mins)

Use arrays made from counters to visualize multiplication as repeated addition.
Activities: "Make an array of 12 dots in different ways" (e.g., 3x4, 4x3).
Use bar models and Think Boards to connect arrays with number sentences.
Activities highlight commutative property (3 fours = 4 threes).
Skip counting practice, e.g., count by 2s, 3s, 5s using interactive chants and claps.

Division Basics (75 mins)

Introduce division as sharing equally and grouping using physical items (e.g., sharing 36 biscuits among 4 friends).
Use Think Boards to solve sharing problems.
Explore difference between grouping and sharing.
Create story problems for division and multiplication pairs.
Use skips counting backward for division.
Reinforce link between multiplication and division facts.

Fractions Exploration (75 mins)

Use paper folding (fold a pizza into halves, quarters) and real objects (fruit segments).
Introduce concept that fractions are part of a whole and parts must be equal.
Colour and label fractional parts.
Discuss language for fractions: half, quarter.
Real-life links: cutting fruit, sharing food.
Use visual fraction walls or charts.

Integrated Story Problem Solving (65 mins)

Solve practical story problems using bar models.
E.g., “I had 75 tomatoes, picked some more, now have 138. How many did I pick?”
Problems combining addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Use drawings and physical materials to represent problem.
Students write number sentences to match problems.
Discuss answers and methods.

Culturally Relevant Maths (40 mins)

Introduce dances or storytelling from First Nations Australians that embody mathematical principles.
Discuss balance and connection between addition and subtraction, multiplication and division.
Students create small group stories or dances illustrating concepts learned.
Reflect on importance of cultural knowledge in understanding maths relationships.

Formative Assessment & Reflection (45 mins)

Activities include:
Quick quizzes to assess addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division knowledge.
Think Boards demonstrating problem-solving process for fraction identification.
Oral questioning to explain methods.
Provide targeted feedback to students.
Goal setting for next lessons.

Resources Required

Counters, blocks, dice, number cards.
Paper for folding and fraction activities.
Printed Think Boards and bar model templates.
Digital apps for counting and mental maths.
Story and dance resources representing First Nations Australians’ cultural context.

Differentiation & Support

Use of manipulatives to support concrete understanding.
Visual diagrams for abstract reasoning.
Verbal explanations and storytelling for engagement.
Encouragement of student-led problem posing.
Scaffold problems from simple to complex based on individual progress.

This plan ensures a rich, engaging, culturally meaningful experience aligned with the South Australian Curriculum standards for Year 2 Mathematics, promoting not only skills in number operations and fraction understanding but also respect for indigenous knowledge and storytelling methods in mathematical contexts.

Teaching Instructions