Add and Subtracts - Cards and poms poms - Practical Maths Activity

A practical maths activity that combines creativity with learning, designed for Year 2 students, involves the use of coloured card, pens, and pom poms to practice addition and subtraction facts fluently, in line with the National Curriculum objectives. To begin, educators or parents can create a number of Christmas tree shapes on individual cards or a larger sheet of card. Each tree has a number written on its trunk, which represents a problem the child must solve. A straight vertical line is drawn down the centre of each tree to divide it into two sections.

The engaging part of the activity comes when children use colourful pom poms as tree ornaments. They are instructed to place the pom poms on the branches, distributing them to match the number on the tree trunk. For instance, if a tree trunk has the number "7" written on it, the child might place 3 pom poms on one side of the vertical line and 4 on the other, making up the total of 7. This visual and tactile method not only helps children understand the concept of addition and subtraction but also encourages fine motor skills and number recognition.