Max Maths, Year 6, Learn together, Review of addition and subtraction (1)

The Max Maths programme for Year 6 provides a comprehensive review of addition and subtraction facts up to 20. The lesson is structured around a table that lists all possible combinations of these operations, utilising shaded cells to highlight mental strategies that can be applied to quickly derive the answers. These strategies include understanding the role of zero in addition, recognising the order property of numbers, identifying doubles and near doubles, making a ten, and counting on in small increments. This approach is designed to reinforce the foundational arithmetic skills that are crucial for mathematical fluency.

For example, the table illustrates that adding zero to any number, such as 8 + 0 or 0 + 9, will result in the number itself, showcasing the concept of zero in addition. It also highlights that 6 + 4 is a near double because it's close to the double fact of 5 + 5, which equals 10. Another mental strategy shown is making a ten to simplify calculations, like in 9 + 4, where one can first add 1 to 9 to reach 10 (9 + 1 = 10), and then add the remaining 3 to reach the final sum of 13 (10 + 3 = 13). These strategies are not only helpful for solving problems quickly but also for deepening the students' understanding of number relationships and arithmetic concepts.