Teacher Resource Centre

A set of teacher guides containing each 6 Mental Mathematics Lesson Starter units for Grade 3 learners, in alignment with the South African curriculum. A different calculation strategy is in focus in each unit. These calculation strategies are taken from the curriculum. Each unit covers a particular group of connected skills, and the aim is to move learners on from counting in ones on their fingers or with tally marks on paper.

Each unit is three weeks long; it begins and ends with a short test for the learners. Marking these tests provides information for the teacher and the learners about how much they have improved in using that particular set of skills during the three weeks. Within each unit, the focus is on three types of calculations: fluency, strategic calculating and strategic thinking.

Working through the Lesson Starters in each unit should lead to improvements in learners’ performance from the pre to post-tests. These improvements show progress in mental mathematics skills and number sense.

The guide is available in 11 official languages of South Africa.

This is UNESCO's first resource with a regional focus on teaching to prevent atrocity crimes. It was developed with the United Nations and in partnership with the UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA). The guide was informed by exchanges with African stakeholders and advisors and tested through a piloting exercise with African teachers and students. It provides principles for teachers to consider in facilitating learning and constructive discussions with their students.