Max Maths, Year 1, Learn together, Addition by counting on

In Max Maths for Year 1, children learn the concept of addition by counting on. This fundamental skill is introduced through relatable and colourful examples that engage young learners. In one scenario, Tya has 3 blue balloons in one hand and 2 yellow balloons in the other. The exercise guides children to find out how many balloons Tya has altogether. The key technique taught here is to start counting from the bigger number, which in this case is 3. By adding the 2 yellow balloons to the 3 blue ones, children can see that 3 plus 2 equals 5. This is reinforced with a visual number line and the equation "3 + 2 = 5", illustrating that Tya has 5 balloons in total. Additionally, the concept of the symbols '=' meaning 'is equal to' and '+' meaning 'add' is introduced, helping to build the foundation of mathematical vocabulary and understanding.

In another example, the book illustrates 4 frogs sitting on a lily pad, and then 2 more frogs join them. Children are encouraged to count on from the bigger number, which is 4, to find out the total number of frogs on the lily pad. A visual aid is provided with a number line that helps them to see that 4 plus 2 is equal to 6. The equation "4 + 2 = 6" is presented, along with the explanation that 6 is 2 more than 4, concluding that there are 6 frogs on the lily pad altogether. These exercises not only teach the mechanics of addition but also help children understand the relationship between numbers and the concept of counting on to find a total.