Recommended Books

The Great Divide: A mathematical marathon

Dayle Ann Dodds

Australian Curriculum:  Description

This book contextualises division using a cycling marathon. Students can mentally calculate how many racers are left after each mishap then check as they turn the pages.

Teaching ideas
(1) Have students develop their own context/idea/story for division, have them see if their elbow partner can mentally calculate the correct answer; (2) Have students use numbers and symbols to represent the number sentences in the story

Alex’s Adventures in Numberland

Alex Bellos

Australian Curriculum:  Description

A book “reclaiming maths from the geeks”. The author explores the mathematical ideas that underpin almost every facet of our lives. He travels the world meeting the fastest human calculators and a numerate chimpanzee in Japan. Snippets of amazing mathematics in the real world and proofs that will have you rapt.

Teaching ideas
Hooks for lessons. Introduction to new topics. Interesting 'starters' for lessons. Ideas to showcase mathematics or numeracy at subject evenings, open days, learning fairs etc.

Anno’s Magic Seeds

Mitsumasa Anno

Australian Curriculum:  Description

Solve word problems by using number sentences involving multiplication or division where there is no remainder (ACMNA082); Find unknown quantities in number sentences involving addition and subtraction and identify equivalent number sentences involving addition and subtraction (ACMNA083)

Teaching ideas
Explore other patterns such as square numbers, triangular numbers, Fibonacci sequence etc.

Can you count to a googol?

Robert E. Wells

Australian Curriculum:  Description

Recognise, model, represent and order numbers to at least 10 000 (ACMNA052); Apply place value to partition, rearrange and regroup numbers to at least 10 000 to assist calculations and solve problems (ACMNA053); 4-Recognise, represent and order numbers to at least tens of thousands (ACMNA072); Apply place value to partition, rearrange and regroup numbers to at least tens of thousands to assist calculations and solve problems (ACMNA073); 7-Investigate index notation and represent whole numbers as products of powers of prime numbers (ACMNA149)

Teaching ideas

How much is a Million?

David M. Schwartz

Australian Curriculum:  Description

Recognise, represent and order numbers to at least tens of thousands (ACMNA072); Apply place value to partition, rearrange and regroup numbers to at least tens of thousands to assist calculations and solve problems (ACMNA073)

Teaching ideas
The author suggests his favourite inside the front cover of the book; I would like a million …; what do we have a million of in this school?; can we walk a million millimeters?; Read a million!

One is a Snail Ten is a Crab

April Pulley Sayre and Jeff Sayre

Australian Curriculum:  Description

Recall multiplication facts up to 10 × 10 and related division facts (ACMNA075)

Teaching ideas
Use other objects to represent multiplicative thinking

One Thing : featuring Charlie and Lola

Lauren Child

Australian Curriculum:  Description

F.Y-Connect number names, numerals and quantities, including zero, initially up to 10 and then beyond (ACMNA002); Yr1-Represent and solve simple addition and subtraction problems using a range of strategies including counting on, partitioning and rearranging parts (ACMNA015); Yr2-Explore the connection between addition and subtraction (ACMNA029); Yr3-Recognise, model, represent and order numbers to at least 10 000 (ACMNA052); Yr3-Tell time to the minute and investigate the relationship between units of time (ACMMG062); Yr4-Recognise, represent and order numbers to at least tens of thousands (ACMNA072); Yr5-Convert between units of time (ACMMG085); Yr6-Select and apply efficient mental and written strategies and appropriate digital technologies to solve problems involving all four operations with whole numbers (ACMNA123)

Teaching ideas
Teach other vocabulary that is often used differently in everyday language such as the examples in the book; e.g. "how about no things" meaning 0 things. Explore time and how long the morning routine takes students in the class. Counting and counting on items.

Is a Blue Whale the Biggest thing there is?

Robert E. Wells

Australian Curriculum:  Description

Yr4 – Recognise, represent and order numbers to at least tens of thousands (ACMNA072); Yr5 – Choose appropriate units of measurement for length, area, volume, capacity and mass (ACMMG108);

Teaching ideas
Exploring some of these abstract concepts with concrete materials. Having the students create their own relationships between objects to aid in understanding large numbers, sizes and quantities.

The Doorbell Rang

Pat Hutchins

Australian Curriculum:  Description

Number and Algrbra – Number and Place Value – Develop efficient mental and written strategies and use appropriate digital technologies for multiplication and for division where there is no remainder (ACMNA076)

Teaching ideas
Students could investigate other numbers that divide equally. What if the original batch had been 24/36/48. How would that have been shared between the guests (2, 4, 6, 12)