Teacher guide · Think Lab · Easier · about 30 min

🦘 Hop in 2s, 5s and 10s

Pupils practise problem solving through "Hop in 2s, 5s and 10s": Skip counting patterns.

Lesson guide

1. Hook · 5 min
Show the 🦘 mission title and read the opening: "2, 4, 6, 8, … what comes next?". Take three quick guesses.
2. Model · 5 min
Think aloud through the first step together. Use Cog the Owl's line as your prompt: "Good thinking. Show me the why."
3. Do · 10 min
Pairs work through the 4 steps on screen or on the printed sheet. Circulate and ask "why?"
4. Discuss · 10 min
Use two or three of the discussion questions. Ask pairs to share different answers, not just correct ones.
5. Reflect · 5 min
Exit ticket: one sentence on how they used problem solving today.

What was the hardest choice in "Hop in 2s, 5s and 10s", and why?
2, 4, 6, 8, … what comes next — explain your reasoning to a partner.
5, 10, 15, … next — explain your reasoning to a partner.
How many fingers on 4 hands? Show how you counted — explain your reasoning to a partner.
Where could you use problem solving outside school this week?
If you did this again, what would you change?

Support: Read prompts aloud, pair with a confident partner, and accept spoken or drawn answers for writing steps.

Stretch: Ask pupils to create their own extra step for a partner and explain the correct answer.

National Curriculum: Maths: number, calculation, fractions and reasoning (KS1/KS2)
National Curriculum: Maths: reasoning mathematically and problem solving
National Curriculum: Computing: logical reasoning and algorithms
PSHE: Living in the wider world: making decisions and evaluating choices

Pupil sheet

Name: ____________________ Date: __________