Bar Modelling: An Introduction

Hi, I'm Rebecca and in this film I'm going to give you an introduction to bar modelling and how it can be used to support mathematical understanding. Now, a bar model is essentially a pictorial representation of a problem. So let's have a look at how it works. Sam has 12 suites and he gives four to his friend. How many does he have left? Now, the bar model helps to fill the void between the concrete experience and the abstract working out and it's used to transition from concrete to pictorial. By identifying all the variables and by labelling each part of the bar, pupils are able to make sense of the problem. The bar model progresses through the key stages, from simple problems involving four operations to more complex problems involving fractions, percentages, ratio and algebra. So there you go. There's a simple introduction to bar modelling. What? Watch the maths in minutes clips to see how you can use this strategy with your class.