Use place value or adjusting to add numbers mentally

The ArithmeKit, designed to enhance mental arithmetic skills in Year 5 and 6 students, provides a strategic approach to adding large numbers by using place value or adjusting. For example, to add 345,000 and 198,000, students are encouraged to round up to the nearest hundred thousand (adding 200,000 instead) and then adjust the sum accordingly. This method simplifies the mental calculation process, making it more manageable and efficient, especially when dealing with numbers close to a base figure like 200,000. The exercises include a variety of sums that encourage pupils to apply this technique, thereby reinforcing their understanding of place value and mental addition strategies.

The ArithmeKit also incorporates engaging activities such as matching pairs, where students must find two numbers that add up to a given sum. This activity not only tests their addition skills but also their ability to recognise and use the relationship between numbers. Additionally, the kit presents challenges involving missing digits, prompting students to use the digits 0-9 to complete addition statements correctly. These exercises stimulate critical thinking and help students to visualise and manipulate numbers mentally, further enhancing their numerical fluency. The ArithmeKit, published by Buzzard Publishing, is a part of the CanDoMaths series and serves as a valuable resource for developing adeptness in mental arithmetic.