Years 5 & 6: Addition and subtraction
This list consists of visual resources, activities and games designed to support the new curriculum programme of study in Years Five and Six. Containing tips on using the resources and suggestions for further use, it covers:
Year 5: Add and subtract whole numbers with more than 4 digits, including formal written methods, add and subtract numbers mentally with increasingly large numbers, use rounding to check answers and determine levels of accuracy, solve addition and subtraction multi-step problems in contexts.
Year 6: Perform mental calculations, including with mixed operations and large numbers, use knowledge of the order of operations to carry out calculations involving the four operations, solve addition and subtraction multi-step problems in contexts, solve problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, use estimation to check answers to calculations and determine, in the context of a problem, an appropriate degree of accuracy.
Visit the primary mathematics webpage to access all lists.
Column subtraction using place value counters
This interactive resource is a great way of helping children understand the process of column subtraction. Three digit numbers are partitioned and place value counters are used before carrying out the column subtraction. This is a useful step when moving children towards a more formal written method for subtraction. Make your own place value counters and use them in class. A great aid for children struggling with column subtraction or for the whole class, dependent on specific class needs.
There are examples of expanded subtraction and column subtraction both with and without borrowing.
Developing a Classroom Culture That Supports a Problem-solving Approach to Mathematics
This article from NRICH discusses ways in which teachers may develop children's problem solving skills. It provides ideas and links which would benefit a teacher's own practice or could be used as a basis of a staff training session.
Here are nine challenges from NRICH which support Addition and Subtraction at KS2.
Addition
Addition pack one contains fifteen work cards with activities on simple counting, number bonds to ten, addition using money and adding two digit numbers.
Addition pack two contains eleven work cards with slightly more challenging activities. Students are required to add two digit numbers which require a digit to be carried, know number bonds up to a hundred, to find multiples of ten and to be able to use a calculator to solve more challenging problems.
Addition pack three contains nine work cards in which the degree of challenge is greater. Students are required to add simple decimals, solve more challenging puzzles and add larger decimal numbers using money as the context.
Subtraction
This resource contains one pack of games, investigations, worksheets and practical activities supporting the teaching and learning of subtraction.
The six work cards provide activities covering subtracting two digit numbers using physical apparatus, and using the column method.