"Using and Applying Maths"

[fallingapartfast]

Hi I've had DS (year 3) report and his weakest area is Using and applying maths. He wants to improve this over the holidays. Can anyone please explain what 'using and applying maths' means (all I can think of is baking cakes?) and recommed any games (preferably in real life not on screens). Happy to play with him but obv is there's stuff he can do on his own that would be helpful too.
Thanks

Invest7gative work. Have a look at the NRich website (google it, not sure of the link...)

nrich.maths.org/content/id/9445/KS2FrameworkLinkedtoNRICHNov13.pdf

He could plan a picnic/party (real or pretend) - e.g. we need a packet of crisps each, biscuits, drinks etc. How many of each shall we get (multipacks etc), how much will it all cost, what change from £10. He will have to decide whether to add, subtract, divide but it will not be as obvious as a formal calculation.
NRich is very good for investigation - great for children to see that there sometimes isn't just one right way of doing something.

Thanks everyone really helpful

Thanks, mrz

Take him to a shop to spot Maths blunders - the Co-Op is particularly good for this. See if you can find a 'Special Offer' like the (Tesco) one attached.

Using and applying maths often refers to problem solving which catches many children out because the maths is so heavily embedded in language. One way to deal with this is spend time picking apart the problem. go thro' it line by line highlighting the numbers and discussing one line at a time what operation you might need to apply.
www.mathsworksheets 4kids.com has a range of worksheets. www.whizz.com is an interactive tutor
www.snappymaths.com is a mixture of both.