Primary Maths Dictionary for Kids and Parents - A guide to the mathematical terms used at primary school and what they mean

Q: Why was this Primary Maths Dictionary created for children and parents?

It was created to help parents and children use correct maths terminology and definitions aligned with the UK National Curriculum, instead of relying on unclear online results.

Q: How do most parents use the dictionary at home?

Most parents use it as a reference during homework sessions, keeping it nearby so they can clarify terms as they come up.

Q: What kinds of maths terms are included in the dictionary?

The dictionary covers a wide range of primary school maths vocabulary, including shapes, clocks, angles, area, algebra, and graph types.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by kopisore

Primary Maths Dictionary for Kids and Parents explains key mathematical terms used in primary school and provides clear definitions to support learning at home. It is designed to help parents confidently assist with homework and topics discussed in class, using correct UK National Curriculum terminology. The guide covers everyday geometry, numbers, clocks, and algebraic ideas, offering practical explanations for common questions such as drawing bar models and finding information like radius, angles, and area.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages41

Reading Time1 h 43 min

AccessFree to download

Contents page

A-Z terms

How to use this maths dictionary

Examples of key terms

Primary Maths Dictionary for Children and Parents A guide to the mathematical terms used in Primary School and what they mean Primary Maths Dictionary for Kids and Parents A guide to the mathematical terms used at primary school and what they mean Why is this resource important? As a parent, you will know that getting involved with your children’s education can be really beneficial to their learning, but sometimes this is easier said than done. It can be particularly hard as parents to know how to help support your children with maths, especially when you don’t even know what some of the words they now use at school mean. Questions like “what is tessellation?”“how do I draw a bar model” or “where do I find the radius of a shape?” can stump any of us. Googling the answer is one option, but as maths teachers, we know the importance of using correct terminology and definitions in maths that are specifically aimed at Primary School children. That’s why we have created this Primary Maths Dictionary For Kids and Parents. So that you no longer have to sift through the various definitions of maths terms that Google delivers, and instead be reassured that you are getting terminology and definitions that are aligned to the UK National Curriculum. How to use this maths dictionary Most parents tell us they use this resource as a reference during a homework session. Keep it near your homework area at home and you’ll never confuse a heptagon and a hexagon again. You may also find it handy when parents evening comes around- if you’re told your child has been using CPA method in class or needs help simplifying fractions, at least you’ll now know what this means. [thirdspacelearning.com](thirdspacelearning.com) Page 1 of 40 Primary Maths Dictionary for Kids and Parents A guide to the mathematical terms used at primary school and what they mean Contents page \# 3 A 4 B 6 C 7 D 10 E 12 F 14 G 15 H 16 I 17 J 18 K 18 L 19 M 20 N 23 O 25 P 26 Q 29 R 30 S 33 T 35 U 36 V 37 W 38 X 39 Y 39 Z 39 [thirdspacelearning.com](thirdspacelearning.com) Page 2 of 40 Primary Maths Dictionary for Kids and Parents A guide to the mathematical terms used at primary school and what they mean < and > < and > are symbols representing one number being ‘greater than’ or ‘less than’ another. For example 16 > 8 or 8 < 16 says that 16 is greater than 8 and 8 is less than 16. 12-hour and 24-hour clock The 12-hour clock goes from 1 am in the morning to 12 noon and from 1 pm in the afternoon to 12 midnight. This is known as ‘analogue’ time. The 24-hour clock goes from 00:00 (midnight) to 23:59 (one minute to midnight) . This is known as ‘digital’time. 2D shapes A 2D shape is any flat or ‘two-dimensional’ shape, such as a square, circle or triangle. 3D shapes A 3D shape is ‘three-dimensional’ and has volume, for an example a cube (cardboard box), pyramid or cylinder (tube) . [thirdspacelearning.com](thirdspacelearning.com) Page 3 of 40 Primary Maths Dictionary for Kids and Parents A guide to the mathematical terms used at primary school and what they mean acute angle An acute angle is any angle less than 90° . algebra In algebra, letters and symbols are used to represent numbers in equations or formulae. For example, if w = 3, what is 6w + 7? analogue and digital clocks An analogue clock is a clock with the numbers 1 to 12 around the outside and two hands, one short hand that represents hours and one long hand that represents minutes. A digital clock uses 24-hour time and always has four digits. For example, 15:30 is half-past three in the afternoon on a digital clock. area The area of a shape, surface, piece of land etc. means the amount of space it takes up. For example, a rectangular football field has an area of 64m² or 64 squared metres. [thirdspacelearning.com](thirdspacelearning.com) Page 4 of 40 Primary Maths Dictionary for Kids and Pare

FAQs

Why was this Primary Maths Dictionary created for children and parents?

It was created to help parents and children use correct maths terminology and definitions aligned with the UK National Curriculum, instead of relying on unclear online results.

How do most parents use the dictionary at home?

Most parents use it as a reference during homework sessions, keeping it nearby so they can clarify terms as they come up.

What kinds of maths terms are included in the dictionary?

The dictionary covers a wide range of primary school maths vocabulary, including shapes, clocks, angles, area, algebra, and graph types.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by kopisore