Add and Subtract with maths link cubes - Practical Maths Activity

An engaging practical maths activity designed for Year 2 pupils combines physical movement with the consolidation of addition and subtraction facts up to 20. This activity requires a small bucket filled with maths link cubes, a pen, and cards with written maths sums. The objective aligns with the National Curriculum, aiming to enhance the fluency of young learners in basic arithmetic operations.

The setup involves creating a clear pathway in the classroom or outdoor space. At one end of this pathway, place the bucket of maths link cubes, and at the other end, position yourself holding a selection of cards featuring addition and subtraction sums. The child is instructed to pick a card and read the calculation out loud. Following this, they run along the pathway to the bucket, where they must collect a number of cubes that corresponds to the correct answer of the sum. They then connect these cubes to form a tower and bring it back to you. To increase the challenge, the child is asked to use the tower they created from the previous sum, incorporating both addition and subtraction in the exercise, thus reinforcing their mathematical understanding through a dynamic and interactive approach.