Year 1 - Maths
Interpret and represent subtraction stories
Additive structures: addition and subtraction
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit pupils will find missing addends in equations. They will partition a whole into 2 parts representing first, then, now stories with subtraction equations. They will learn + and - are inverse operations.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to interpret and represent subtraction stories that involve decreasing an amount using the 'First, then, now' structure.
Key Notes
- In a 'First, then, now' subtraction story, the number at the start of the story is decreased by subtracting a part.
- When using subtraction to decrease an amount, the number that is decreased must always be represented first.
- This can be represented with practical equipment and as a bar model or a number line.
- We can write an equation to match these representations.
Vocabulary To Learn
- First: Before anything else.
- Then: After something in time.
- Now: At the present time.
- Decrease: To make something smaller in size or quantity.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- The change in amount during the 'then' part of the story may be hard to identify.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Solve this in steps: explain the method from this lesson and why each step matters.
In a 'First, then, now' subtraction story, the number at the start of the story is decreased by subtracting a part. When using subtraction to decrease an amount, the number that is decreased must always be represented first.
2. Use this key word in a maths sentence and explain it clearly. 'First'
Before anything else. Use this word when showing your method, then check your final answer is reasonable.
3. Spot and fix this common maths mistake.
Mistake: The change in amount during the 'then' part of the story may be hard to identify. Correction: Draw attention to explicitly to the change, talking about it as a decrease.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Create addition and subtraction stories Study Guide
- Find the missing part in addition and subtraction stories Study Guide
- Find the missing part of a subtraction story Study Guide
- Find the missing part of an addition story Study Guide
- Furthering understanding of subtraction as decreasing an amount Study Guide
- Interpret and represent addition stories Study Guide
- Know that addition and subtraction are inverse operations Study Guide
- Represent the inverse relationship between addition and subtraction Study Guide
- Understand subtraction as decreasing an amount Study Guide
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