Place value within 10 - Count one less - Starter

In a Year 1 mathematics session focusing on place value within 10, the concept of counting one less is introduced. The lesson begins with a 'Fluent in Four' revision activity, which requires children to use wooden shaped blocks as manipulatives. These hands-on materials are essential for young learners to concretize abstract mathematical concepts through tactile experience. The starter activity prompts students to engage with a series of tasks designed to reinforce their understanding of subtraction and the notion of 'one less' through practical exploration and visual aids.

During the lesson, children are presented with simple subtraction problems, such as 'Seven – double two =', and are asked to calculate '9 – 9 ='. To further develop their counting skills, they are encouraged to think about what 'one more' would be and how they might sort their blocks to represent this. The activity also includes a creative challenge where students are asked to replicate a tower using their blocks, focusing on attributes such as shape, size, and colour. This multi-faceted approach helps to build foundational numeracy skills, including subtraction, counting, and the ability to sort and categorize objects based on different characteristics.