Addition and subtraction - Know your bounds - Starter

In a Year 2 mathematics activity focusing on addition and subtraction, students are encouraged to become fluent in these fundamental operations. The exercise begins with a task requiring pupils to fill in missing comparison symbols, fostering their understanding of mathematical inequalities. For example, they must determine the result of 90 divided by 10 and compare various sums and differences, such as 3 + 6 and 3 + 4, as well as 19 – 3 and 10 – 4. This activity not only reinforces their arithmetic skills but also introduces them to the concept of greater than, less than, and equal to.

Another engaging part of the lesson involves a real-world scenario where students calculate changes in a group of ladybirds. Initially, they are given a number of ladybirds and then they must add more to the group, finally stating the new total. This practical application helps to solidify their understanding of addition. Additionally, the children are presented with a problem that involves finding the mass of a strawberry in marbles, which requires them to divide 45 by five. Through these exercises, the students practice their computational skills and enhance their problem-solving abilities in a variety of contexts, including time-telling as they also work with the concept of 'half past nine'.