Place Value within 50 - Tens and ones - Starter

In a Year 1 mathematics lesson, students are introduced to the concept of place value within the number range of 50, focusing on understanding tens and ones. The starter activity, designed to be engaging and interactive, prompts students to explore numbers and simple subtraction through a series of exercises. For instance, they might be presented with the numbers 28 and 30, and asked to continue counting, or given subtraction problems like '13 – 5' to solve, which reinforces their mental arithmetic skills. This activity serves as a revision tool, ensuring that children are fluent in the fundamental concepts of number sequences and basic calculations.

The lesson also incorporates practical problem-solving scenarios to further engage the pupils. Questions such as "Could all the stones fit in the bucket?" or "How many strawberries are in each basket? Which basket contains more strawberries?" encourage students to apply their understanding of numbers to real-life contexts. These activities not only improve their numerical fluency but also enhance their comparative and analytical abilities. By asking them to answer these questions, children are prompted to think critically and justify their answers, thereby deepening their comprehension of place value and its application in everyday situations.