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      Add and subtract mentally without bridging a boundary

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can add and subtract mentally without bridging a boundary with one or more digits changing

      Key learning points

      1. Known facts to 10 can be applied when adding and subtracting 100s, 1,000s, 10,000s and 100,000s
      2. When adding and subtracting mentally, the language of unitising supports us in addition to using known facts.
      3. An understanding of the structure of numbers and place value supports when we add and subtract mentally.

      Keywords

      • Addend - An addend is a number added to another. They are also known as the parts.

      Common misconception

      Children may believe that only one digit will change when adding two numbers where one addend has only one non-zero digit.

      This is usually correct but what would happen if the digit changed to a value of 10 or greater? Then we would need to regroup (another lesson).

      Teacher tip

      The lesson should be as practical as possible, using place value counters and charts to support children to see the digits that change/s.

      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.
      Complete: is 3,000 more than 6,000

      Correct Answer: 9,000, 9000

      Q2.
      1,306 + 400 =

      Correct Answer: 1,706, 1706

      Q3.
      Two plus three is equal to five so two thousand plus three thousand is equal to ___

      5
      50
      500
      Correct answer: 5,000
      50,000

      Q4.
      is forty thousand less than ninety thousand. Give your answer as a numeral using digits.

      Correct Answer: 50,000, 50000

      Q5.
      6,709 − 3,000 = ___

      Correct answer: 3,709
      6,409
      6,739
      9,709

      Q6.
      Lucas thinks of a number. His number is 5,100 more than 13,215 What is his number?

      Correct Answer: 18,315, 18315

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      3,901,481 + 3,000 = ___

      3,091,781
      3,931,481
      3,903,481
      Correct answer: 3,904,481

      Q2.
      Complete: 8,940,305 − 300,000 =

      Correct Answer: 8,640,305, 8640305

      Q3.
      Match the addends to their sum.

      Correct Answer:4,451,038 + 2,000,000 = ,6,451,038
      Correct Answer:4,451,038 + 200,000 =,4,651,038
      Correct Answer:4,451,038 + 20,000 =,4,471,038
      Correct Answer:4,451,038 + 2,000 =,4,453,038
      Correct Answer:4,451,038 + 200 =,4,451,238

      Q4.
      7,154,302 + 500,000 − 400,000 =

      Correct Answer: 7,254,302, 7254302

      Q5.
      Match the equations to their difference.

      Correct Answer:8,296,792 − 31,000 =,8,265,792
      Correct Answer:8,296,792 − 31,500 =,8,265,292
      Correct Answer:8,296,792 − 31,520 =,8,265,272
      Correct Answer:8,296,792 − 31,524 =,8,265,268

      Q6.
      Lucas thinks of a number. His number is 561,000 less than 3,994,314 What number is Lucas thinking of?

      Correct Answer: 3,433,314, 3433314

      To help you plan your 6 maths lesson on: Add and subtract mentally without bridging a boundary, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...