A gentle 11+ start for Year 4

Read aloud, a page each · 10 min · Reading

1. Take turns reading a page each of a book about animals.
2. Stop once and ask: what do you think happens next, and why?

Easier: You read; your child follows and reads one sentence a page.

Times-table ping-pong · 5 min · Number

1. Pick one table, for example the 7s.
2. Take turns: one says 7 × 8, the other answers 56. Then go backwards: 56 ÷ 7.

Easier: Use the 2, 5 and 10 times tables.

Odd one out · 5 min · Reasoning

1. Say four words, such as apple, banana, carrot, pear.
2. Your child picks the odd one out and explains the rule. Any well-explained answer counts.

Easier: Use pictures or real objects.

Word collector · 5 min · Reading

1. While reading, find one word neither of you uses much.
2. Guess its meaning from the sentence around it, then check a dictionary.
3. Use it in a sentence of your own today.

Easier: Say the sentence aloud instead of writing it.

Shopkeeper · 10 min · Number

1. Price three things in the house under £5 each.
2. Your child adds up the total and works out the change from £10.

Easier: Two things, change from £5.

What comes next? · 5 min · Reasoning

1. Say a number pattern: 3, 7, 11, 15.
2. Your child finds the next number (19) and the rule, then makes one for you.

Easier: Patterns that add 2 or 10.

Three questions · 10 min · Reading

1. After reading a page or two, your child asks you three questions whose answers are in the text.
2. Answer, and point to the line that proves it. Then swap.

Easier: Two questions each.

Number of the day · 5 min · Number

1. Pick a number such as 348.
2. Double it, halve it, add 99, and round it to the nearest 10 and 100.

Easier: Do two of these.

This is to that · 5 min · Reasoning

1. Hand is to glove as foot is to what? (sock or shoe)
2. Make up two more for each other.

Easier: Give three choices to pick from.

Twelve-word summary · 10 min · Reading

1. Read a short article or chapter about animals.
2. Sum it up in exactly twelve words. Count them together.

Easier: Say it aloud in one sentence, no word count.

Clock challenge · 5 min · Number

1. Read the time on an analogue clock.
2. Say it as a 24-hour time, then work out how long until the next meal.

Easier: Read the time to the nearest five minutes.

Shape patterns · 10 min · Reasoning

1. Draw three shapes that change by one rule each step: turning a quarter turn, or gaining a side.
2. The other person draws the fourth.

Easier: Change only the colour or size.