Python for Grade 5, Lesson 2: Maths with Python

A complete lesson · 60 minutes

Teach it, see it, practise it, all on this page.

Open this page with your learner and work down it, or press Teach this lesson to go through it one step at a time on a big screen. Every section has something to do.

See the teacher's plan

Warm-up3 min
Warm-up games5 min
Add, take away, times and divide9 min
Sharing with // and %9 min
Words and answers together9 min
Party planner7 min
How old in days?7 min
Odd or even detector5 min
Quiz5 min
Set the after-class project1 min

By the end you can

Do sums with + - * and /
Use // and % to share things out
Use brackets to choose what happens first
Print words and answers on one line

Before you start

Lesson 1: print()
Times tables up to 10

Have ready

This page
A pencil to guess answers first

Grade 5 · ages 10 and 11 · no experience needed

Warm-up · think first

12 sweets, 5 friends. How many does each friend get, and how many are left over?

Show the answer

Each gets 2, and 2 are left over. Today Python works that out with // and %.

Teacher tip: Let them share real objects or draw it first.

More warm-ups for every class →

🎮 Warm-up games · 5 quick games

Play with Bolt the robot

Five minutes with Bolt the robot. Vote, say why, then show the answer.

Which sum doesn't belong: 2 + 6, 4 × 2, 10 − 2, 3 × 3? (2 + 6 · 4 × 2 · 10 − 2 · 3 × 3)
Answer: 3 × 3 is the odd one: it makes 9, and the others make 8.
Would you rather have 3 bags of 7 coins, or 4 bags of 5 coins? (3 bags of 7 · 4 bags of 5)
Answer: 3 bags of 7 is 21 coins, which beats 4 bags of 5, which is 20.
If you share sweets equally, something is left over. (Always · Sometimes · Never)
Answer: Sometimes. 12 sweets among 4 friends leaves none, but 12 among 5 leaves 2.
2 + 3 × 4: is it 20 or 14?
Answer: 14. Multiply first: 3 × 4 is 12, then add 2. Python follows the same rule.
Where do grown-ups use sums every day?
Answer: Shopping, cooking, travel, phone data. Collect ideas: the activities use some of them.

Part 1 of 3 · learn, see, practise

Add, take away, times and divide

Listen to this part

I am very fast at sums! Use + and -, a star * for times and a slash / for divide. No quotes for numbers!

Without quotes, Python works out the sum and shows the answer. With quotes, it just shows the text.

Times is * and divide is /. Dividing with / always gives a decimal, like 4.0.

🧑‍🏫 Teacher: type this live with the class

Bolt does sums

print(7 + 5)
No quotes this time! Ask for the answer first, then run.
print("7 + 5")
Same thing with quotes. Ask: what will we see this time? Vote, then run. Text stays as text.
print(6 * 8)
The star means times.
print(20 / 4)
Slash means divide. Point out the answer has a .0, so it's a decimal.

Type here

▶ Output

(nothing is printed)

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

Example: run it, then change it

print(150 + 275)
print(1000 - 1)
print(12 * 12)
print(99 / 3)

print(150 + 275)
print(1000 - 1)
print(12 * 12)
print(99 / 3)

▶ Output

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

Change the numbers. Try a giant sum like 123456 * 789.

Practise it

Start with the warm-up and go as far as you can. The stretch questions are meant to be hard.

Warm-up

1.1 Print the answer to 25 + 17.

Task 1.1

▶ Output

(nothing is printed)

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

Model answer (for the teacher)

print(25 + 17)

Warm-up

1.2 Print the answer to 9 × 7.

Task 1.2

▶ Output

(nothing is printed)

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

Model answer (for the teacher)

print(9 * 7)

Core

1.3 A book costs 120 rupees. You pay with 500. Print your change, using a sum.

Task 1.3

▶ Output

(nothing is printed)

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

Model answer (for the teacher)

print(500 - 120)

Core

1.4 One week has 7 days. Print how many days are in 52 weeks, using a sum.

Task 1.4

▶ Output

(nothing is printed)

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

Model answer (for the teacher)

print(7 * 52)

Stretch 🔥

1.5 Print 100 ÷ 8 with /.

Task 1.5

▶ Output

(nothing is printed)

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

Model answer (for the teacher)

print(100 / 8)

Part 2 of 3 · learn, see, practise

Sharing with // and %

Listen to this part

Sharing sweets? Two slashes // tell you how many each friend gets. The % sign tells you how many are left over!

// is whole-number sharing: 17 // 5 is 3.

% gives the remainder, what is left: 17 % 5 is 2.

% is great for checking even numbers: an even number % 2 is 0.

🧑‍🏫 Teacher: type this live with the class

Share 17 sweets among 5 friends

print(17 // 5)
Draw 17 dots on the board and circle groups of 5. How many groups? That's //.
print(17 % 5)
How many dots aren't in a group? That's %.
print(10 % 2)
No leftovers, so 10 is even.
print(11 % 2)
One left over, so 11 is odd. Ask: test your age!

Type here

▶ Output

(nothing is printed)

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

Example: run it, then change it

print(25 // 4)
print(25 % 4)
print(30 % 2)
print(31 % 2)

print(25 // 4)
print(25 % 4)
print(30 % 2)
print(31 % 2)

▶ Output

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

Which line tells you if a number is even? Try your house number.

Practise it

Start with the warm-up and go as far as you can. The stretch questions are meant to be hard.

Warm-up

2.1 20 sweets, 3 friends. Print how many each friend gets.

Task 2.1

▶ Output

(nothing is printed)

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

Model answer (for the teacher)

print(20 // 3)

Warm-up

2.2 20 sweets, 3 friends. Print how many are left over.

Task 2.2

▶ Output

(nothing is printed)

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

Model answer (for the teacher)

print(20 % 3)

Core

2.3 Print the remainder when 45 is divided by 7.

Task 2.3

▶ Output

(nothing is printed)

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

Model answer (for the teacher)

print(45 % 7)

Core

2.4 A van holds 8 children. Print how many full vans 50 children fill.

Task 2.4

▶ Output

(nothing is printed)

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

Model answer (for the teacher)

print(50 // 8)

Stretch 🔥

2.5 100 minutes is how many whole hours, and how many minutes left? Print the two answers on two lines.

Task 2.5

▶ Output

(nothing is printed)

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

Model answer (for the teacher)

print(100 // 60)
print(100 % 60)

Part 3 of 3 · learn, see, practise

Words and answers together

Listen to this part

Numbers alone are boring. Use a comma and I'll show words and answers together, with a space between them. Brackets tell me what to do first!

A comma inside print shows several things with spaces between: print("Total:", 5 + 3).

Python does * and / before + and -. Brackets go first: (2 + 3) * 4 is 20.

🧑‍🏫 Teacher: type this live with the class

A friendly answer

print("Pizzas:", 3)
The comma adds a space for us.
print("Slices:", 3 * 8)
Words in quotes, sum without quotes.
print(2 + 3 * 4)
Ask for the answer first. Is it 20 or 14?
print((2 + 3) * 4)
Brackets go first. Now it's 20.

Type here

▶ Output

(nothing is printed)

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

Example: run it, then change it

print("Cookies:", 4 * 6)
print("Each person gets", 24 // 5)
print("Left over:", 24 % 5)

print("Cookies:", 4 * 6)
print("Each person gets", 24 // 5)
print("Left over:", 24 % 5)

▶ Output

Cookies: 24
Each person gets 4
Left over: 4

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

Change the 24 and the 5 to plan your own party.

Practise it

Start with the warm-up and go as far as you can. The stretch questions are meant to be hard.

Warm-up

3.1 Print exactly: Total: 15, working out 7 + 8 in the code.

Task 3.1

▶ Output

(nothing is printed)

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

Model answer (for the teacher)

print("Total:", 7 + 8)

Warm-up

3.2 Print exactly: Legs: 16, working out how many legs 4 dogs have.

Task 3.2

▶ Output

(nothing is printed)

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

Model answer (for the teacher)

print("Legs:", 4 * 4)

Core

3.3 Use brackets so this prints 30 instead of 16.

Task 3.3

print(2 + 3 * 6 - 4)

print(2 + 3 * 6 - 4)

▶ Output

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

Model answer (for the teacher)

print((2 + 3) * 6 - 4)

Core

3.4 Each ticket costs 45 rupees. Print exactly: 3 tickets cost 135 rupees, with the sum in the code.

Task 3.4

▶ Output

(nothing is printed)

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

Model answer (for the teacher)

print("3 tickets cost", 3 * 45, "rupees")

Stretch 🔥

3.5 Print exactly: 1 hour 40 minutes, working both numbers out from 100 minutes.

Task 3.5

▶ Output

(nothing is printed)

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

Model answer (for the teacher)

print(100 // 60, "hour", 100 % 60, "minutes")

Watch out

Common mistakes

Putting a sum in quotes

print("5 + 3") shows the words 5 + 3. Remove the quotes to get 8.

Using x for times

Python uses a star: 4 * 5, never 4 x 5.

Mixing up // and %

// is how many in each group. % is what is left over.

Forgetting the comma

print("Total" 5) stops with an error. Write print("Total", 5).

Class activity 1 of 3

Party planner

24 cookies, 5 friends. Follow the steps to print a party plan like this:
PARTY PLAN
Each friend gets 4
Left over: 4
Cost: 120 rupees

Print the title.
Use // to work out each friend's share.
Use % for the leftovers.
Each cookie costs 5 rupees: use * for the cost.

Your code

# ===== Party planner =====
# 1) Print the title: PARTY PLAN

# 2) Print "Each friend gets" and 24 // 5

# 3) Print "Left over:" and 24 % 5

# 4) Each cookie costs 5 rupees.
#    Print "Cost:", then 24 * 5, then "rupees"

# ===== Party planner =====
# 1) Print the title: PARTY PLAN

# 2) Print "Each friend gets" and 24 // 5

# 3) Print "Left over:" and 24 % 5

# 4) Each cookie costs 5 rupees.
#    Print "Cost:", then 24 * 5, then "rupees"

▶ Output

(nothing is printed)

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

Hint

Use commas between words and sums, as in print("Left over:", 24 % 5).

Model answer (for the teacher)

# ===== Party planner =====
print("PARTY PLAN")
print("Each friend gets", 24 // 5)
print("Left over:", 24 % 5)
print("Cost:", 24 * 5, "rupees")

Class activity 2 of 3

How old in days?

Work out how long someone aged 11 has been alive. Follow the steps, and let Python do all the sums.

Print the days: 11 × 365.
Print the hours: 11 × 365 × 24.
Print the minutes.
Make each line a sentence with a comma.

Your code

# ===== How old in days? =====
# 1) Print "Days:" and 11 * 365

# 2) Print "Hours:" and 11 * 365 * 24

# 3) Print "Minutes:" and 11 * 365 * 24 * 60

# ===== How old in days? =====
# 1) Print "Days:" and 11 * 365

# 2) Print "Hours:" and 11 * 365 * 24

# 3) Print "Minutes:" and 11 * 365 * 24 * 60

▶ Output

(nothing is printed)

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

Hint

Each line builds on the one before. Add one more * each time.

Model answer (for the teacher)

# ===== How old in days? =====
print("Days:", 11 * 365)
print("Hours:", 11 * 365 * 24)
print("Minutes:", 11 * 365 * 24 * 60)

Class activity 3 of 3

Odd or even detector

Use % 2 to check three numbers. An answer of 0 means even, and 1 means odd.

Print 14 % 2.
Print 27 % 2.
Print 100 % 2.
Say which are even.

Your code

# ===== Odd or even detector =====
# 1) Print "14 gives", then 14 % 2

# 2) Print "27 gives", then 27 % 2

# 3) Print "100 gives", then 100 % 2

# ===== Odd or even detector =====
# 1) Print "14 gives", then 14 % 2

# 2) Print "27 gives", then 27 % 2

# 3) Print "100 gives", then 100 % 2

▶ Output

(nothing is printed)

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

Hint

Copy the pattern: print("14 gives", 14 % 2).

Model answer (for the teacher)

# ===== Odd or even detector =====
print("14 gives", 14 % 2)
print("27 gives", 27 % 2)
print("100 gives", 100 % 2)

After class · project

My holiday money planner

Plan a day out for your family and let Python work out the money. Change the numbers to make it your own trip, and keep every answer as a sum in the code.

Pick a place to visit.
Work out the ticket cost for your family.
Add food and travel to get the total.
Share the total equally with // and show what is left with %.
Print it as a neat bill with borders.

What to make: A program with no errors that prints a bill with at least 6 lines, with Python doing every sum.

Stretch: Add a line that says how much is left from 2,000 rupees after the trip.

How it is marked

Look for	Done well when
Runs	No red error
Sums	Python works out each answer
Sharing	Uses // and %
Neat	A title and borders

Starter code to take home

Press Copy and paste it into the editor at home, or work on it right here.

Project starter

# ===== My holiday money planner =====
print("=" * 26)
print("   DAY OUT AT THE ZOO")
print("=" * 26)

# 1) 4 tickets at 150 rupees each
print("Tickets:", 4 * 150)

# 2) Print "Food:", then 4 meals at 120 rupees each

# 3) Print "Travel:" and 300

# 4) Print "Total:", adding all three sums together

# 5) Print "Each person pays" and the total // 4

# 6) Print "Left to share:" and the total % 4

# ===== My holiday money planner =====
print("=" * 26)
print("   DAY OUT AT THE ZOO")
print("=" * 26)

# 1) 4 tickets at 150 rupees each
print("Tickets:", 4 * 150)

# 2) Print "Food:", then 4 meals at 120 rupees each

# 3) Print "Travel:" and 300

# 4) Print "Total:", adding all three sums together

# 5) Print "Each person pays" and the total // 4

# 6) Print "Left to share:" and the total % 4

▶ Output

==========================
   DAY OUT AT THE ZOO
==========================
Tickets: 600

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

🔑 Show one possible solution (try it yourself first!)

One possible solution

# ===== My holiday money planner =====
print("=" * 26)
print("   DAY OUT AT THE ZOO")
print("=" * 26)

print("Tickets:", 4 * 150)
print("Food:", 4 * 120)
print("Travel:", 300)
print("Total:", 4 * 150 + 4 * 120 + 300)
print("Each person pays", (4 * 150 + 4 * 120 + 300) // 4)
print("Left to share:", (4 * 150 + 4 * 120 + 300) % 4)

# ===== My holiday money planner =====
print("=" * 26)
print("   DAY OUT AT THE ZOO")
print("=" * 26)

print("Tickets:", 4 * 150)
print("Food:", 4 * 120)
print("Travel:", 300)
print("Total:", 4 * 150 + 4 * 120 + 300)
print("Each person pays", (4 * 150 + 4 * 120 + 300) // 4)
print("Left to share:", (4 * 150 + 4 * 120 + 300) % 4)

▶ Output

==========================
   DAY OUT AT THE ZOO
==========================
Tickets: 600
Food: 480
Travel: 300
Total: 1380
Each person pays 345
Left to share: 0

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

Homework

Practise at home

Each one checks itself. Or print the practice sheet.

Warm-up

1. Print the answer to 345 + 678.

Homework 1

▶ Output

(nothing is printed)

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

Warm-up

2. Print exactly: Weeks in a year: 52, with 364 // 7 in the code.

Homework 2

▶ Output

(nothing is printed)

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

Core

3. A bus has 40 seats. Print how many seats 6 buses have.

Homework 3

▶ Output

(nothing is printed)

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

Core

4. Print the remainder when 100 is divided by 7.

Homework 4

▶ Output

(nothing is printed)

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

Stretch 🔥

5. Add brackets to this line so it prints 50.

Homework 5

print(5 + 5 * 5)

print(5 + 5 * 5)

▶ Output

📦 Memory boxes

No variables yet

🔥 Challenge round · finished early?

The hardest questions of the lesson, no notes

Cover the notes and try these from memory. They are meant to make you think hard: draw, try small cases, and check your answer.

Stretch task 1: Print 100 ÷ 8 with /.
Stretch task 2: 100 minutes is how many whole hours, and how many minutes left? Print the two answers on two lines.
Stretch task 3: Print exactly: 1 hour 40 minutes, working both numbers out from 100 minutes.

🧠 Think-hard question

Work out how many weeks and days are in 100 days, and print exactly: 14 weeks and 2 days.

Talk it through or use the drawing board. There is more than one way to get there.

🎯 Practice mode: one question at a time 🧩 Brain warm-ups 🎮 Maths and logic games

Quiz · 8 questions

Final quiz: check what you learned

Pick an answer to see if it is right and why. Your best score is saved on this device.

1What does this show?

print(5 + 3)

Show the answer

8. No quotes, so Python does the sum.

2What does this show?

print("5 + 3")

Show the answer

5 + 3. Quotes make it plain text.

3Which sign means times?

Show the answer

*. Python uses a star for times.

4What does this show?

print(17 // 5)

Show the answer

3. 17 shared among 5 is 3 each.

5What does this show?

print(17 % 5)

Show the answer

2. 17 shared among 5 leaves 2 over.

6What does this show?

print(2 + 3 * 4)

Show the answer

14. Times goes first: 3 * 4 is 12, plus 2.

7What does this show?

print((2 + 3) * 4)

Show the answer

20. Brackets first: 5 * 4.

8What does this show?

print("Total", 5)

Show the answer

Total 5. A comma adds one space.

🖨 Print what we learned

Make a worksheet from this lesson

Pick what to practise, then print it or choose Save as PDF in the print window to download it.

For parents and teachers

The 60-minute lesson plan

Use it as it is, or stretch any part over two sessions. Each row links to the part of the page you need.

Time	Part	The teacher	The learner
0–3 min	Warm-up	Ask the question and wait for a guess before any hint.	Guess, then explain.
3–8 min	Warm-up games	Play three or four games. Ask for a reason each time.	Vote and say why.
8–17 min	Add, take away, times and divide	Do the type-along first: type each line, say the words, run it. Then show the example.	Type along, then do the practice.
17–26 min	Sharing with // and %	Do the type-along first: type each line, say the words, run it. Then show the example.	Type along, then do the practice.
26–35 min	Words and answers together	Do the type-along first: type each line, say the words, run it. Then show the example.	Type along, then do the practice.
35–42 min	Party planner	Show the boilerplate and read the numbered steps. Let them press Check often.	Follow the steps.
42–49 min	How old in days?	Do step 1 together, then let them finish.	Finish the activity.
49–54 min	Odd or even detector	If time is short, set it as homework.	Try the challenge.
54–59 min	Quiz	Read each question aloud. Vote, then check.	Answer and read why.
59–60 min	Set the after-class project	Open the project and agree a due date.	Copy the boilerplate.

Questions to ask

What is the difference between // and %?
Why does print("5 + 3") not show 8?
What happens first in 2 + 3 * 4?

If it feels hard

Use real objects for // and %: buttons or coins in groups. Let the learner predict every answer before pressing Run.

If it feels easy

Work out how many weeks and days are in 100 days, and print exactly: 14 weeks and 2 days.

FAQ

Python the super calculator: questions

Why does Python use * and not x for times?

The letter x could be a name in a program, so Python uses a star instead. Calculators and spreadsheets do the same.

What does % mean in Python?

In Python, % gives the remainder after dividing. It is not about percentages here.

Why does 20 / 4 show 5.0?

The / sign always gives a decimal answer. Use // when you want a whole number.

Python the super calculator

Teach it, see it, practise it, all on this page.

By the end you can

Before you start

Have ready

12 sweets, 5 friends. How many does each friend get, and how many are left over?

Play with Bolt the robot

Add, take away, times and divide

Bolt does sums

Practise it

Sharing with // and %

Share 17 sweets among 5 friends

Practise it

Words and answers together

A friendly answer

Practise it

Common mistakes

Putting a sum in quotes

Using x for times

Mixing up // and %

Forgetting the comma

Party planner

How old in days?

Odd or even detector

My holiday money planner

How it is marked

Starter code to take home

Practise at home

The hardest questions of the lesson, no notes

🧠 Think-hard question

Final quiz: check what you learned

Make a worksheet from this lesson

The 60-minute lesson plan

Questions to ask

If it feels hard

If it feels easy

Python the super calculator: questions

Want a teacher to take this class?