Max Maths, Year 4, Try it, Subtracting 2- and 3-digit numbers using counting blocks and column method (1)

In the Max Maths programme for Year 4, students are encouraged to try their hand at subtracting 2- and 3-digit numbers through a hands-on and visual approach. The activity begins with an examination of a collection of counting blocks, which represent the total number from which subtraction will take place. Students are instructed to take note of the number of blocks that have been crossed out, as this indicates the quantity to be subtracted from the total. This exercise helps to concretize the concept of subtraction by providing a tangible representation of the numbers involved.

After observing the blocks, the next step is to translate this visual information into a more formal mathematical method known as the column method. This technique involves writing the numbers in a vertical format, aligning the ones, tens, and hundreds accordingly, and then performing the subtraction operation column by column, starting from the ones place and moving leftward. This exercise not only reinforces the subtraction process but also helps to bridge the gap between a concrete understanding of subtraction (using physical blocks) and the abstract representation of numbers and operations used in more advanced mathematics.