Addition and subtraction - Add and subtract 1s - Starter

In this engaging mathematics lesson tailored for Year 2 students during the Autumn Term, the focus is on enhancing their addition and subtraction skills, specifically adding and subtracting 1s. The lesson begins with a 'Fluent in Four' revision activity where students are encouraged to use comparative language such as 'heavier', 'equal', or 'lighter' to describe relationships between objects. They are also asked to interpret visual representations and translate them into number sentences, further reinforcing their understanding of basic arithmetic operations.

Students are then presented with subtraction problems such as '15 – 7 =' and '8 – half of 4 =', which they are tasked to calculate. These exercises are designed to promote fluency in mental arithmetic and to develop their ability to work with halves. Additionally, the concept of place value is reinforced through the use of a 10 frame, where each square represents the value of 10, allowing students to visualise and perform calculations such as '60 + 40 = 100' and '30 + 60 + 10 = 100'. The lesson provides a blend of visual, verbal, and numerical challenges to cater to different learning styles and to ensure a thorough understanding of the basic principles of addition and subtraction.