Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division - Inverse Operations - Planning

In a comprehensive lesson tailored for Year 6 pupils, the concept of inverse operations is explored to deepen their understanding of addition and subtraction. The lesson begins with a review of previous knowledge and then moves on to demonstrate how these operations are interconnected. Using a visual aid called an inverse triangle, the children are shown a subtraction problem, such as 17,468 minus 8,947, and are tasked with finding the corresponding addition fact. This exercise reinforces the commutative property of addition and helps children visualise the inverse relationship between the two operations. The lesson is designed to support pupils in recognising that subtraction problems can be checked for accuracy by using the inverse operation of addition. Additional practice is provided for those who need further reinforcement in reading inverse triangles and creating number sentences.

The lesson progresses with a word problem that introduces a number journey starting with an unknown value. Pupils engage in partner discussions to determine how inverse operations can be used to backtrack through the number sentence to find the original number. This activity underscores the practical application of inverse operations in solving problems. Group work follows, where children collaborate to complete reasoning tasks, share solutions, and discuss strategies. The lesson is tailored to accommodate different levels of understanding, with worksheets designed for those working towards fluency, expected level, and greater depth. Pupils are encouraged to reflect on their learning, the skills they've utilised and any challenges they've faced. The lesson aims to ensure that by the end, students will be able to correctly identify and apply inverse operations to both one-step and multi-step word problems.