Skip to content
Mathematics · Primary 2

Active learning ideas

Integrated Problem Solving: End-of-Year Review

Active learning works well for this end-of-year review because primary students need to connect abstract concepts to tangible tasks. Hands-on stations, quick relays, and peer discussions let them practice applying skills they’ve learned across strands in a low-pressure way. This builds fluency and confidence before moving on to more complex problems.

MOE Syllabus OutcomesMOE: Numbers and Algebra - P2MOE: Measurement and Geometry - P2MOE: Statistics and Probability - P2MOE: Problem Solving - P2
30–45 minPairs → Whole Class4 activities

Activity 01

Stations Rotation45 min · Small Groups

Stations Rotation: Strand Review Stations

Prepare four stations, one each for numbers, measurement, geometry, and data problems. Groups rotate every 10 minutes, solving two multi-step problems per station and noting strategies used. End with a whole-class share-out of one key insight per group.

Which mathematical skills and strategies have we learned this year, and when is each most useful?

Facilitation TipDuring Strand Review Stations, circulate and ask guiding questions like, 'Which skill from last term does this problem remind you of?' to help students make connections.

What to look forProvide students with a problem requiring two steps, for example, 'Sarah bought 3 packs of stickers with 5 stickers each. She gave 7 stickers to her friend. How many stickers does she have left?' Ask students to write down the steps they took and the final answer.

RememberUnderstandApplyAnalyzeSelf-ManagementRelationship Skills
Generate Complete Lesson

Activity 02

Hundred Languages30 min · Small Groups

Problem-Solving Relay: Multi-Step Chain

Divide class into teams. Each student solves one step of a chained problem (e.g., measure, add, graph), passes paper to next teammate. Teams check and justify full solutions together. Repeat with varied problems.

How can we combine concepts from numbers, measurement, geometry, and data to solve a single problem?

Facilitation TipIn the Multi-Step Chain Relay, demonstrate how to pass ideas forward by modeling clear step-by-step explanations at each station.

What to look forPresent a problem involving simple shapes and lengths. Ask students to draw the shape and label its dimensions, then calculate its perimeter. Observe if they correctly apply measurement and geometry skills.

UnderstandApplyCreateSelf-AwarenessSelf-ManagementSocial Awareness
Generate Complete Lesson

Activity 03

Gallery Walk35 min · Pairs

Gallery Walk: Strategy Share

Students solve individual problems, then post solutions with strategy explanations on walls. Peers gallery walk, add sticky notes with questions or agreements. Discuss in pairs to refine thinking.

How do we communicate our problem-solving process clearly and justify our solutions?

Facilitation TipFor the Reflection Gallery Walk, provide sentence stems on sticky notes to scaffold peer feedback, such as, 'I noticed your group used...'.

What to look forPose a problem that can be solved using either a bar model or systematic listing. Ask students: 'Which strategy did you choose and why? What was the most challenging part of solving this problem?'

UnderstandApplyAnalyzeCreateRelationship SkillsSocial Awareness
Generate Complete Lesson

Activity 04

Hundred Languages40 min · Small Groups

Math Growth Timeline: Personal Review

Students create timelines of year-long skills with examples and self-assessments. Share in small groups, peer-teaching one strategy. Teacher circulates to prompt reflections.

Which mathematical skills and strategies have we learned this year, and when is each most useful?

What to look forProvide students with a problem requiring two steps, for example, 'Sarah bought 3 packs of stickers with 5 stickers each. She gave 7 stickers to her friend. How many stickers does she have left?' Ask students to write down the steps they took and the final answer.

UnderstandApplyCreateSelf-AwarenessSelf-ManagementSocial Awareness
Generate Complete Lesson

Templates

Templates that pair with these Mathematics activities

Drop them into your lesson, edit them, and print or share.

A few notes on teaching this unit

Experienced teachers approach this topic by balancing individual accountability with collaborative problem solving. Avoid rushing through stations; allow time for students to reflect on their process. Research shows that primary students benefit from visual organizers like bar models to represent problems before calculating. Model your own thinking aloud when solving problems to normalize the process of making mistakes and revising strategies.

Successful learning looks like students selecting and explaining strategies clearly, working collaboratively to solve multi-step problems, and justifying their reasoning in group discussions. They should show flexibility by trying different approaches and recognizing connections between strands like measurement and data. Struggling students will receive targeted support while advanced students deepen their understanding through challenge tasks.


Watch Out for These Misconceptions

  • During Station Rotation: Strand Review Stations, watch for students who insist their strategy is the only correct one.

    Prompt them to compare their method with a peer’s at the same station. Ask, 'What do you notice about how your approach and your friend’s approach are similar or different?' Use the station’s answer key to validate multiple correct paths.

  • During Reflection Gallery Walk: Strategy Share, watch for students who describe only the answer, not the process.

    Provide feedback cards with prompts like, 'Explain why you chose this strategy' or 'What was tricky about this problem?' Rotate the cards so students respond to specific questions about their work.

  • During Problem-Solving Relay: Multi-Step Chain, watch for teams that solve each step in isolation without linking to the next problem.

    At each station, require students to write a one-sentence summary of their solution and how it connects to the next problem. Model this by solving the first step aloud and stating, 'This answer will help us with the next part because...'


Methods used in this brief