Number sense and algebra includes eight sub-elements:
- Number and place value
- Counting processes
- Additive strategies
- Multiplicative strategies
- Interpreting fractions
- Proportional thinking
- Number patterns and algebraic thinking
- Understanding money.
The resources below are organised into themes that support the development of one or more Number sense and algebra sub-elements.
Number sense
Number sense lays the foundation for the development of more advanced mathematical concepts and underpins the numeracy knowledge and skills that people require to function well in the world. The following resources support teachers to develop students’ skills across the Number sense and algebra element encountered by students in Prep–Year 10.
- Developing number sense in Prep–Year 3 (PDF, 392.0 KB)
- Exploring place value through decimal fractions in Years 4–6 (PDF, 291.3 KB)
- Using number lines to enhance number sense in Prep–Year 3 (PDF, 293.5 KB)
- Using number lines to enhance number sense in Years 4–6 (PDF, 304.3 KB)
- Video: Developing decimal thinking (MP4, 27.7 MB)
Mathematical talk routines
Mathematical talk routines are short, purposefully structured activities that:
- incorporate mathematical proficiencies while exploring mathematical concepts, strategies and facts
- provide an engaging environment in which students develop conceptual understanding as well as fluency, through meaningful practice
- can be introduced in the early years and built upon each year across many different mathematical concepts.
The following resources support teachers to develop students’ skills across the Number sense and algebra element in Prep–Year 10.
Fractional and proportional thinking
The five fraction constructs within the Interpreting fractions sub-element are:
- part-whole
- measure
- division
- operators
- ratio.
Improving thinking about fractions in Years 2–6
The following resources support teachers in improving student thinking about fractions in Years 2–6.
- Guidance for teachers (PDF, 822.7 KB)
Provides an overview of how the resources can be used to develop students' fractional and proportional thinking. - Presentation (PPTX, 4.7 MB) and Reflection template (DOCX, 1.8 MB)
Provide professional learning support. - Common student misconceptions poster (PDF, 451.6 KB)
Identifies relevant Australian Curriculum v9.0 content descriptions to inform future teaching. - Video: Foundational concepts in fractions (MP4, 30.6 MB)
Introduces the foundational fraction constructs to teachers. - Strategy factsheets and resources, grouped by fraction construct (below).
Strategy factsheets and resources: Fraction constructs
The following factsheets and resources support teachers to design classroom activities that develop students' thinking about fractions in Years 2–6.
Each strategy factsheet focuses on one or more of the five fraction constructs and includes a step-by-step guide to using the strategy, or strategies, and the ready-to-use templates and printable resources in an activity.
Examples of variations to the activities support adaptation across year levels and fraction constructs, allowing teachers to make informed decisions about their use in context.
Download a ZIP file with all the resources:
Part-whole
- Factsheet: All the ways we represent a fraction (PDF, 195.5 KB)
(Suitable for teaching part-whole and ratio fraction constructs) - Factsheet: Comparing quarters (PDF, 220.1 KB)
- Factsheet: What is the whole? (PDF, 244.1 KB)
Measure
- Factsheet: Money, money, money (PDF, 264.9 KB)
- Printable cards: Money, money, money (PDF, 157.2 KB)
- Factsheet: Walk the line (PDF, 284.2 KB)
- Printable cards: Walk the line (PDF, 222.9 KB)
- Factsheet: What fraction time? (PDF, 278.8 KB)
- Printable cards: What fraction time? (PDF, 512.9 KB)
Division
- Factsheet: Dividing pancakes (PDF, 256.1 KB)
- Factsheet: Multiplication squares (PDF, 249.7 KB)
- Template: Multiplication squares (PDF, 185.8 KB)
- Factsheet: Sharing snakes (PDF, 397.8 KB)
- Template: Sharing snakes (PDF, 194.0 KB)
Operators
Ratio
- Last updated:
- 7 August 2026
