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      Show one more and one less than a number using representations and describe this accurately

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can recognise that the number before a given number is one less and the number after a given number is one more.

      Key learning points

      1. Movement is magnitude. As you move forwards through the counting sequence the quantity increases by one.
      2. Movement is magnitude. As you move backwards through the counting sequence the quantity decreases by one.
      3. Use a number line to model the counting sequence and include zero.

      Keywords

      • One more - The number after a given number is one more than it.

      • One less - The number before a given number is one less than it.

      • Before - A number that is before another comes earlier in our count.

      • After - A number that is after another comes later in our count.

      • Number line - A line with numbers placed in their correct position.

      Common misconception

      Children may confuse one more and one less, particularly when finding missing numbers.

      Use the stem sentence __ is one more / less than __ because it comes after / before it in the count.

      Teacher tip

      Provide opportunities for children to engage in varied fluency practice eg. completing one more / one less sentences presented in different ways, real-world problems where the 'answer' cannot be seen and real-word problems linking to measure.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What is missing in the count? 1, 2, 3, _, 5

      3
      Correct answer: 4
      5

      Q2.
      What number is missing when counting back from 5? 5, 4, _, 2, 1

      Correct answer: 3
      4
      5

      Q3.
      The number before my number is one ___ than my number.

      more
      Correct answer: less

      Q4.
      The number after my number is one ___ than my number.

      Correct answer: more
      less

      Q5.
      What is one more than 3?

      2
      3
      Correct answer: 4

      Q6.
      What is one less than 3?

      Correct answer: 2
      3
      4

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Izzy thinks the missing number will be the same for both of these. Is she correct?

      An image in a quiz
      Correct answer: Yes
      No

      Q2.
      Jacob thinks the missing number will be the same for both of these. Is he correct?

      An image in a quiz
      Yes
      Correct answer: No

      Q3.
      Jacob has 4 conkers in his pocket. He finds one more. How many conkers does he have now?

      An image in a quiz
      3
      4
      Correct answer: 5

      Q4.
      Izzy has 3 pounds in her piggy bank. She is given one more pound. How many does she have now?

      An image in a quiz
      2
      3
      Correct answer: 4

      Q5.
      Jacob has 4 conkers in his pocket. He gives one to Izzy. How many conkers does he have left in his pocket?

      An image in a quiz
      2
      Correct answer: 3
      4
      5

      Q6.
      Izzy has 5 pounds in her piggy bank. She takes one pound out to spend. How many does she have left?

      An image in a quiz
      3
      Correct answer: 4
      5
      6

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