Intermediate Phase Comprehensive Workbooks

The NumberSense Intermediate Phase Comprehensive Workbooks provide an all-inclusive mathematics programme that addresses all of the Intermediate Phase mathematics curriculum learning outcomes in a single set of workbooks.

With the Original NumberSense Workbooks for the Intermediate Phase, Number, Operations and Relationships and Pattern were presented in an integrated manner over three workbooks while Space and Shape (Geometry), Measurement, and Data Handling were covered in a separate workbook – the Companion Workbook. These learning areas are now included in the Comprehensive Workbooks. The implication is that the full curriculum of each grade is typically covered over four consecutive workbooks.

Each workbook addresses more than one mathematics learning area and is organised by section. The pages in each section should be completed in sequence. However, the entire workbook is not completed in sequence. It is expected that the teacher will switch between sections throughout the term to add variety and to make sure that all of the learning areas in each workbook are addressed throughout the term. For example, in any week the teacher may decide to let the class do Number, Operations and Relationships and Pattern pages on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and then two pages of Measurement on Thursday and Friday. Teachers need to plan carefully because, on some occasions, activities in, for example, the Data Handling section may be spread over several pages and these pages should be completed as a single unit.

Specific features of the Intermediate Phase workbooks include:

• A strengthening of the Space and Shape (Geometry), Measurement, and Data Handling activities and tasks from how they were dealt with in the Companion Workbooks. Many topics are now dealt with thematically.
• A more natural alignment of the workbooks with the school terms (one workbook per term). For those familiar with the Original NumberSense Workbooks, this will take some adaption, however, the convenience of having the Companion materials included in the workbooks should outweigh the inconvenience:
  • Grade 4: Workbooks 13, 14, 15 and 16
  • Grade 5: Workbooks 17, 18, 19 and 20
  • Grade 6: Workbooks 21, 22, 23 and 24

Intermediate Phase Workbook Overview