To make something smaller in size or quantity.

Interpret and represent subtraction stories

Maths

In this unit pupils will find missing addends in equations. They will partition a whole into 2 parts representing first, then, now stories with subtraction equations. They will learn + and - are inverse operations. In the future unit pupils will explain that addition is commutative. They will find pairs of numbers to 10 and add or subtract 1 from any number.

In prior learning, pupils will have learnt to count confidently and have developed a deep understanding of the numbers to 10, the relationships between them and the patterns within those numbers. In this unit pupils will find missing addends. They will partition a whole into two parts and represent it with subtraction equations learning that addition and subtraction are inverse operations.

Additive structures: addition and subtraction

Which picture could represent this story?
First, there were 7 cats on the wall.
Then, 3 cats jumped off the wall.
Now, there are 4 cats on the wall.

Which equation would represent this story?

First, there were 9 cars. Then, 1 car left. Now, there are 8 cars.

First, there were 5 cars, Then, 1 car left. Now, there are 4 cars.

First, there were 4 cars. Then, 1 car left. Now, there are 5 cars.

Which 'First, then, now' story represents this bar model?

First, there were 2 dogs. Then, 2 dogs left. Now, there are 0 dogs.

First, there were 9 cats. Then, 1 cat left. Now, there are 8 cats.

First, there were 6 pigs. Then, 3 pigs left. Now, there are 3 pigs.

Match the story to the equation it represents.

Which of these equations has been shown on this number line? 

The amount left at the end of the story. 

Alex writes an equation to match this story.  
7 - 2 = 5 
What does the 5 represent? 

First, there were 5 pencils. Then, I took 2 pencils. Now, there are 3 pencils.

First, there were 3 pencils. Then, I put in 2 pencils. Now, there are 5 pencils.

First, there were 5 pencils. Then, I took 3 pencils. Now, there are 2 pencils.

Which set of counters would represent this story? 
First, there were 8 pounds in my pocket. 
Then, I spent 3 pounds. 
Now, there are 5 pounds in my pocket. 

Which equation matches the story? 
First, there were 8 books on a shelf.
Then, 2 books were taken off. 
Now, there are 6 books on the shelf.

Write an equation to match the story. 
First, there were 10 pebbles in my bucket. 
Then, I dropped 2 pebbles. 
Now, there are 8 pebbles in my bucket.  

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Interpret and represent subtraction stories

Lesson outcome

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.