Numeracy Report

DOING MATHS TOGETHER AT HOME

Adding and subtracting

Young children need to develop a sense of addition and subtraction. This includes combining two or more objects and removing and separating objects.

Words to use

Activities that encourage adding

Add amounts of everyday items, toys, fruit, books. Children may use their fingers to add.
As you are walking add the number of different items you see, for example flowers in a garden.
On a calendar, ask your child to mark the days they went to school or did another activity. At the end of the week add the number of days for each activity.
When you are shopping, talk about what you need to buy. Ask questions such as, "How many bananas for everyone in the family? If I get one more, how many will we have?"
Play games that encourage adding using two dice, for example Snakes and Ladders.

Activities to encourage subtracting

Subtract everyday items. Count the items in their lunch box and then subtract as items are taken away.
When eating count how many items you have. Ask questions such as, "How many grapes have you eaten? How many are left?"
Encourage your child to notice the difference when items are removed such as taking eggs out of a carton or removing bananas from a bunch.
Sing songs such as Five Little Ducks, where the number reduces as one is taken away.
Ask questions such as, “We have five apples in the bowl. If I ate two apples how many apples are left?”

Books to encourage adding and subtracting.

Kind regards,

Jennifer O’Connor

Assistant Principal