Max Maths, Year 6, Learn together, Addition of 2- and 3-digit numbers (3)

In a mathematics lesson for Year 6 students, the task is to learn addition of 2- and 3-digit numbers through a practical and visual approach using counting blocks and the column method. The example provided is the addition of 128 and 451. The process begins with representing each number using blocks for ones, tens, and hundreds, and then aligning them in columns. This visual representation helps students to understand the value of each digit according to its place value.

The addition starts with the ones column, where 8 ones from the first number and 1 one from the second number are added together, resulting in 9 ones. Next, the tens column is tackled by adding 2 tens to 5 tens, giving a total of 7 tens. Finally, students move on to the hundreds column, where 1 hundred is added to 4 hundreds, equalling 5 hundreds. By following these steps, students can see that the sum of 128 and 451 is 579. The column method organises the numbers vertically and adds them from right to left, which is a reliable strategy for performing addition, as demonstrated in the example. The lesson reinforces the concept that each column represents a different place value, ensuring that students understand the importance of aligning numbers correctly when adding.