Teacher guide · Think Lab · Easier · about 30 min

🎠 Counting Carnival

Pupils practise problem solving through "Counting Carnival": Count, add and take away at the fair.

Lesson guide

1. Hook · 5 min
Show the 🎠 mission title and read the opening: "🎈🎈🎈 + 🎈🎈 = ?". 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 5 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 "Counting Carnival", and why?
🎈🎈🎈 + 🎈🎈 = — explain your reasoning to a partner.
You have 6 sweets and eat 2. How many left — explain your reasoning to a partner.
Which is more — 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: __________