Add and Subtract with paper plates - Practical Maths Activity

In a hands-on practical maths activity designed for Year 2 students, the aim is to enhance their addition and subtraction skills through the use of everyday materials. The equipment required for this activity includes paper plates, counters (which could be small objects like beans or buttons), sticky notes, a die, and pens. This activity aligns with the National Curriculum objectives for Year 2, specifically targeting problem-solving with addition and subtraction, and encourages the use of concrete objects and pictorial representations to aid understanding.

To prepare for the activity, a paper plate is divided into three sections by drawing two lines: one line bisects the plate, and another splits one of the resulting halves, creating one large and two smaller sections. A sticky note with either an addition (+) or subtraction (-) sign is then attached to the plate to indicate the operation to be practiced. The child begins the game by rolling the die and placing a number of counters equal to the roll into one of the smaller sections. After a second roll, they place the new amount of counters into the other small section. The child then either adds or subtracts these amounts, depending on the sign on the sticky note, and places the resulting number of counters into the larger section of the plate. This visual and tactile method of learning maths concepts is both engaging and educational, and the setup can be quickly reset for repeated practice.