Skill: Addition, multiplication, place value.

Resources: Napier’s Bones template (see below)

Activity: This activity uses an interesting historical context to help pupils understand place value ideas. It is also a fun and interesting way of performing multiplication. Pupils can check their answer using a calculator or performing long multiplication.

Questions: 1. Study page number 2. What patterns can you see in Napier’s Bones? 2. Can you fill in the empty template? (page 3) 3. With a classmate, can you find the value of simple multiplication statements e.g. 2×5, 3×4. 4. With your teacher’s help, multiply larger, two digit numbers by one digit numbers.