Max Maths, Year 2, Learn together, Addition review (3)

In the 'Max Maths' Year 2 curriculum, students are encouraged to strengthen their mental arithmetic skills through an addition review exercise. This particular task, designed to be engaging and educational, involves adding beads mentally. The aim is to help young learners find strategies to simplify addition by breaking down numbers into easier sums. For example, when faced with the problem 8 + 4, the sum is restructured as 8 + 2 + 2, which allows students to first reach a round number, 10, and then add the remaining 2 to arrive at the total of 12. This method is known as 'making ten' and is a foundational skill in developing mental math fluency.

Other examples provided in the exercise follow the same principle. The sum 9 + 5 is broken down into 9 + 1 + 4, making it easier to first add 1 to 9 to reach the round number 10, and then add the remaining 4 to conclude with 14. This technique is repeated with various combinations of numbers, such as 6 + 7, which is separated into 3 + 3 + 7, and then simplified to 3 + 10, resulting in 13. The exercise not only helps students practice addition but also builds their confidence in manipulating numbers mentally. After completing these examples, students are directed to workbook pages 34 to 36 for further practice, ensuring they reinforce their understanding and proficiency in addition.