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      Solve addition calculations mentally by using known facts in a range of contexts

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can solve addition calculations mentally by using known facts in a range of contexts.

      Key learning points

      1. If I increase this part by __ then the whole will increase by the same amount.
      2. If I decrease this part by __ then the whole will decrease by the same amount.
      3. A balance beam can represent unequal expressions or inequalities.

      Keywords

      • Whole - The whole is all the parts or everything, the total amount.

      • Part - A part is a piece or section of the whole.

      • Adjustment - An adjustment is a change to a number using either subtraction or addition.

      • Capacity - Capacity is the amount that something can hold.

      Common misconception

      Pupils may be very quick to try and use a written method such as columns here, particularly as the numbers get larger.

      Encourage the children to refrain and reward them taking risks and avoiding using written methods as much as possible. Prove to them that it's quicker to do it in your head or with jottings by racing your fastest 'columns ' exponent!

      Teacher tip

      Because money is involved, it is worth practising some counting in tenths and hundredths followed by counting in pennies and ten-pennies.

      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.
      Tick the equivalent expressions

      Correct answer: 30 + 16
      Correct answer: 15 + 31
      17 + 32
      Correct answer: 29 + 17
      14 + 30

      Q2.
      Tick the two numbers that are complements to 1,000

      Correct answer: 369
      285
      723
      534
      Correct answer: 631

      Q3.
      Tick the two numbers that are decimal complements to 10

      Correct answer: 3.53
      2.85
      Correct answer: 6.47
      5.34
      8.37

      Q4.
      What is the missing number in this equation? 89 + = 150

      Correct Answer: 61

      Q5.
      What is the missing number in this equation? 15 + 25 + = 70

      Correct Answer: 30

      Q6.
      What is the missing number in this equation? 55 + 12 + = 80 + 14

      Correct Answer: 27

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which of the following describes capacity?

      Correct answer: Capacity is the amount that something can hold.
      Capacity is the space inside an object.
      Capacity is the willingness to do something.
      Capacity is the sum of all the parts.

      Q2.
      Without using a written method, calculate the cost of a slice of cake and a cupcake based on the prices shown. Total cost is £

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: 4, £4

      Q3.
      Without using a written method, calculate the cost of a full cake and a slice based on the prices shown. Remember to use the correct notation for money.

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: £12.90, 1290 p, 12.90

      Q4.
      Without using a written method, calculate the cost of a full cake and a cupcake based on the prices shown. Remember to use the correct notation for money.

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: £10, £10.00, 10

      Q5.
      What’s the missing total in the table? Use the first row to help. Remember to use correct notation for money.

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: £62.40, 62.40

      Q6.
      A popstar has a concert. What was the combined attendance for Paris and Berlin? Use the information in the table.

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: 85,156, 85 156

      To help you plan your 6 maths lesson on: Solve addition calculations mentally by using known facts in a range of contexts, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...