Addition And Subtraction In Year 2

In Year 2, we have been learning to add and subtract numbers in different ways.

In the first lesson of the week, we had fun learning about Four way sums, also called turn around sums, that can be made up of numbers. Four way sums mean that there are two addition sums and two subtraction sums that can be worked out.

For example:
2 + 9 = 11
9 + 2 = 11
11- 2 = 9
11 – 9 = 2

To help the students work out their sums we learnt the number facts that the answer to an addition sum is always the highest number and the first number in a subtraction sum is always the highest number.

Then we learnt about bonds of 20 or numbers that can be added or subtracted to make 20. We also calculated the answers to Four way or turn around sums with these numbers in our workbooks.

In lesson 3, we looked at how to add and subtract 10’s and how knowing bonds below 10 helps us work out sums of 10. For example, if we know 2 + 5 = 7 it is easy to work out that 20 + 50 = 70.

Lesson 4 was also very fun. The students learnt how to use a number line to add and subtract 3 or more numbers. We learnt that the answers stays the same when we add the same numbers in a different order. For example 4 + 3 + 2 = 9 and 2 + 4 + 3 = 9

During the last lesson of the week, we did a revision activity. Each student was given 3 cards. They wrote 5 sums of 20 on the first card, 5 sums of 10 on the second card and 3 train sums on the last card. We strung the cards onto some wool and tied it at the end so that the cards stayed on. Some students wanted to put the cards up like bunting in their room and some of the students wore their new sum necklace.

The students have really enjoyed learning about addition and subtraction of numbers in fun ways and have certainly learnt a lot during these lessons.

Bronwen Nuthall
Year 2 Teacher