LO: To add two-digit numbers using columns.  

LO: To add 3-digit and 4-digit numbers using columns.  

LO: To add 4-digit and 5-digit numbers using columns. 

 

Warm Up:

The teacher creates a 2-digit number of addition questions on board and models them for pupils.

Then creates additional questions for pupils to attempt on whiteboards.

Practical Games:

“Human Place Value Columns”

Focus: Understanding carrying and place value
Resources: Number cards (0–9), labelled floor spaces (“Tens” and “Ones”)

How to Play

1. Choose 4 pupils to stand in the Tens and Ones columns (2 pupils per number).

2. They hold up cards showing a 2-digit number (e.g. 3 and 7 = 37).

3. Choose another group to make the second number.

4. As a class, add the ones first — if it makes more than 10, a “carry helper” pupil moves one “ten” to the tens column.

5. Add the tens together to find the total.

 

“Place Value Race”

Focus: Setting up and adding correctly in columns
Resources: Dice (or number cards), whiteboards, base-10 blocks (optional)

How to Play

1. Pupils work in pairs.

2. Each rolls two dice twice to make two 2-digit numbers (e.g. roll 3 and 5 = 35; roll 6 and 2 = 62).

3. They write them in column form and solve using column addition.

 

“Addition Target Board”

Focus: Accuracy and strategic thinking
Resources: Whiteboard or large chart with target numbers (e.g. 80, 90, 100), number cards 10–60

How to Play

1. In teams, pupils pick two number cards and add them using column addition.

2. They try to get as close as possible to a target number (e.g. 100).

3. Closest total earns a point.

4. Rotate targets for each round.