Addition and subtraction within 20 - Compare number sentences - Starter

In the context of a Year 1 maths curriculum, the focus for Spring Term's Week 4, Day 4, is on developing fluency in addition and subtraction within 20, as well as comparing number sentences. The session starts with a "Fluent in Four" revision activity, where students are tasked with solving subtraction problems such as "19 – 7" and "Double 9 – 13", encouraging quick mental arithmetic. Additionally, they are prompted to complete and write four related addition and subtraction sentences using a given bar model, which helps them visualise the relationship between the numbers.

Another engaging activity invites students to identify which group represents 6 balls and to select a number shape that corresponds to the number 7, enhancing their understanding of number representation and quantity. Moving on to Day 5, the children are presented with a series of comparison tasks involving subtraction and addition equations, where they must choose the correct digit card to complete the number sentences accurately. These exercises not only reinforce arithmetic skills but also introduce comparative concepts such as 'greater than' and 'less than'. The lesson concludes with a challenge to identify the longest object and to continue a given pattern, further enriching the students' mathematical reasoning and understanding of measurement and sequences.