A single table gives Year 4 pupils 12 four-digit numbers to round to the nearest 10, the nearest 100 and the nearest 1,000. Numbers such as 4,367, 6,505, 7,995 and 9,450 show how one number can give three different answers. Page 2 asks which number rounds to the same value in all three columns, then asks pupils to explain 2,499 with two number lines. The last page fills in the table and writes out the explanation. It follows England National Curriculum rounding.
Number - number and place value
“round any number to the nearest 10, 100 or 1000”
All 36 cells in the table ask pupils to round a four-digit number to the nearest 10, 100 or 1,000.
Number - number and place value
“recognise the place value of each digit in a four-digit number (thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones)”
Question 3 asks which digit decides the rounding of 2,499 at each level.
Twelve rows of four-digit numbers, from 1,249 and 2,499 to 6,666 and 9,450, with blank columns headed Nearest 10, Nearest 100 and Nearest 1,000.
Pupils name the number that gives the same rounded value in every column. They then use number lines from 2,400 to 2,500 and from 2,000 to 3,000 to explain 2,499.
The completed table and a written explanation of 2,499. It looks at the tens digit for the nearest 100 and the hundreds digit for the nearest 1,000.
Timed warm-up
Give out the table for five minutes. Check the rows with a 5 in them first, such as 3,050, 5,555 and 9,450.
Talk in pairs
Ask partners to pick one row, such as 7,995, and explain to each other why all three columns match.
Short reasoning task
Use question 3 as a written task. Look for pupils who name the digit that decides each answer and do not stop at the rounded number.
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