Max Maths, Year 1, Learn together, Adding by bridging to 10

The concept of 'Adding by bridging to 10' is an essential mathematical skill introduced in Max Maths for Year 1 students. This technique helps young learners to simplify addition by breaking down numbers into tens and ones. For instance, when Toby starts with 9 crayons and receives 3 more from Tya, rather than adding 9 and 3 directly, the sum is restructured. By regrouping, 1 crayon is taken from the 3 to make a full 10 with the 9 crayons Toby already has. This leaves 2 crayons ungrouped. The calculation then becomes a simpler 10 plus 2, giving Toby a total of 12 crayons. This method makes it easier for children to understand and perform addition by capitalising on the base-10 number system.

Another example involves Han and Tya finding seashells on the beach. Han finds 8 seashells, while Tya finds 5. To calculate the total number of seashells found, the numbers are again regrouped into tens and ones. From Tya's 5 seashells, 2 are used to bring Han's 8 up to a full 10, leaving 3 seashells. The sum is then simplified to 10 plus 3, equaling 13 seashells in total. Additionally, students learn to form number bonds with beads, discovering that different groupings, such as 6 plus 6 and 10 plus 2, result in the same total of 12. This reinforces the concept of regrouping and demonstrates its effectiveness in different scenarios, helping to build a strong foundation in addition for young learners.