'Mental addition and subtraction' tutor notes

In this section you'll find:

Mental addition and subtraction games
There are three games for practising mental addition and subtraction.

Game 1: Bargain Hunt
This is a mental addition game which is based on the BBC Bargain Hunt programme and features David Dickinson. The student has to add up the prices of the antiques on the cards. The student can select to add up two or three numbers. There are 3 levels, A, B and C with A being the easiest and C the hardest. At level A the numbers are easier to add up as the units don't carry over and there is more time to calculate the sum. At level C units and tens carry over and there is less time to calculate the sum.

Game 2 and Game 3: Mental Maths Fridge Magnet Games

In these games the learner can practice mental addition and subtraction skills by filling blanks in sums written out in fridge magnets.

At the start of the game, the learner can choose whether to answer questions by finding the answer or filling a blank in the question (eg. 35 - ? = 20). They can also choose whether to have a time limit (60 seconds) on each question. At the end they are given a score out of 10.

With a score of 8 or more a bonus screen is available, on which there is a random selection of fridge magnet letters to re-arrange and play about with.

TOP TIP! To see any of the games completely full screen, press the F11 key on the keyboard. This takes away the distraction of the top browser bar. To bring the browser bar back, just press F11 again!

Mental addition and subtraction quiz
The learner can choose their level. Level A is the easiest, level C the hardest.
Students can print out a certificate if they score 50% or more in the quiz. This will appear as a link on the results page - click on the link and the certificate will appear in a new window. Once printed students can write their name on the certificate.

Mental addition and subtraction factsheets
There are ten sheets in this section which can be printed out and kept.

• Factsheet 1 - SHARED - An overview of 5 methods for mental addition and subtraction.
• Factsheet 2 - Reminders to help the students with mental addition and subtraction.
• Factsheet 3 - Method 1 - splitting up numbers.
• Factsheet 4 - Method 2 - hundreds, tens and units.
• Factsheet 5 - Method 3 - rounding (addition).
• Factsheet 6 - Method 3 - rounding (subtraction).
• Factsheet 7 - Method 4 - empty number line.
• Factsheet 8 - Method 5 - doubling.
• Factsheet 9 - Key words for mental addition.
• Factsheet 10 - Key words for mental subtraction.

Mental addition and subtraction worksheets
There are five printable worksheets in this section, for learners to carry on the work done online.

• Worksheet 1 - Some practise for method 1 - splitting up numbers.
• Worksheet 2 - Identify which numbers add up to a certain amount, using hundreds, tens and units.
• Worksheet 3 - Some sums to practise addition and subtraction by rounding.
• Worksheet 4 - An empty number line worksheet.
• Worksheet 5 - A worksheet to practise doubling.

How does this tie in with the curriculums?

• England

  N1/E3.2 - add and subtract using three-digit whole numbers.

  N1/E3.3 - recall addition and subtraction facts to 20.

  N1/L1.8 - approximate by rounding.

• Wales
  As England
• Northern Ireland
  As England
• Scotland
  Awaiting publication of Scottish Curriculum at time of print

Technical help:

All the 'plug-ins' you need to use this topic area are included on the CD-ROM or should be already on your computer bundled with your operating system.

If you are new to the web, why not try BBC WebWise's Becoming WebWise online course? It's free and will take you through everything you need to know to use the web successfully in your teaching.

Taking it further
Here's a few suggestions of other places on the web that you might find useful resources that you can adapt for teaching mental addition and subtraction.

• BBC ReviseWise Mental Maths
  ReviseWise is aimed at children at the end of Key Stage 2, but it still has useful activities you can try with your students.
• Warm up activities
  Another resource from the Adult Basic Skills Resource Centre. This is a downloadable PDF with some warm up activities for practising mental maths.
• AAA Math - addition
• AAA Math - subtraction
  An American site containing many pages demonstrating different addition and subtraction skills, with interactive activities and games.