Addition and Subtraction KS2
Strike it Out
Use your addition and subtraction skills, combined with some strategic thinking, to beat your partner at this game.
Totality
This is an adding game for two players. Can you be the first to reach the target?
4 Dom
Use these four dominoes to make a square that has the same number of dots on each side.
Buying a Balloon
Lolla bought a balloon at the circus. She gave the clown six coins to pay for it. What could Lolla have paid for the balloon?
Build it Up
Can you find all the ways to get 15 at the top of this triangle of numbers? Many opportunities to work in different ways.
Planning a School Trip
You are organising a school trip and you need to write a letter to parents to let them know about the day. Use the cards to gather all the information you need.
Fifteen Cards
Can you use the information to find out which cards I have used?
A Mixed-up Clock
There is a clock-face where the numbers have become all mixed up. Can you find out where all the numbers have got to from these ten statements?
Super Shapes
The value of the circle changes in each of the following problems. Can you discover its value in each problem?
Always, Sometimes or Never? Number
Are these statements always true, sometimes true or never true?
First Connect Three
Add or subtract the two numbers on the spinners and try to complete a row of three. Are there some numbers that are good to aim for?
True or False?
Without doing lots of calculations, can you decide which of these number sentences are true? How do you know?
Play to 37
In this game for two players, the idea is to take it in turns to choose 1, 3, 5 or 7. The winner is the first to make the total 37.
Amy's Dominoes
Amy has a box containing domino pieces but she does not think it is a complete set. Which of her domino pieces are missing?
Make 37
Four bags contain a large number of 1s, 3s, 5s and 7s. Can you pick any ten numbers from the bags so that their total is 37?
Six Ten Total
This challenge combines addition, multiplication, perseverance and even proof.
Twenty Divided Into Six
Katie had a pack of 20 cards numbered from 1 to 20. She arranged the cards into 6 unequal piles where each pile added to the same total. What was the total and how could this be done?
Roll These Dice
Roll two red dice and a green dice. Add the two numbers on the red dice and take away the number on the green. What are all the different possible answers?
Six Numbered Cubes
This task combines spatial awareness with addition and multiplication.
Maze 100
Can you go through this maze so that the numbers you pass add to exactly 100?
Finding Fifteen
Tim had nine cards each with a different number from 1 to 9 on it. How could he have put them into three piles so that the total in each pile was 15?
Reach 100
Choose four different digits from 1-9 and put one in each box so that the resulting four two-digit numbers add to a total of 100.
Domino Square
Use the 'double-3 down' dominoes to make a square so that each side has eight dots.
Four Go
This challenge is a game for two players. Choose two of the numbers to multiply or divide, then mark your answer on the number line. Can you get four in a row?
Sealed Solution
Ten cards are put into five envelopes so that there are two cards in each envelope. The sum of the numbers inside it is written on each envelope. What numbers could be inside the envelopes?
Dice in a Corner
How could you arrange at least two dice in a stack so that the total of the visible spots is 18?
The Dice Train
This dice train has been made using specific rules. How many different trains can you make?
4 by 4 Mathdokus
Can you use the clues to complete these 4 by 4 Mathematical Sudokus?
Consecutive Numbers
An investigation involving adding and subtracting sets of consecutive numbers. Lots to find out, lots to explore.
Subtraction Surprise
Try out some calculations. Are you surprised by the results?
Got It
A game for two people, or play online. Given a target number, say 23, and a range of numbers to choose from, say 1-4, players take it in turns to add to the running total to hit their target.
Three Neighbours
Take three consecutive numbers and add them together. What do you notice?
You may also be interested in this collection of activities from the STEM Learning website, that complement the NRICH activities above.