LO: To subtract two-digit numbers using columns.  

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

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

 

Warm Up:

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

Then creates additional questions for pupils to attempt on whiteboards.

 

Practical Games:

 

“Bingo – Subtraction Edition”

Focus: Accuracy and recall
Resources: Bingo cards with possible answers, counters, subtraction problems

How to Play

1. Pupils have cards showing results (e.g. 14, 26, 39, 47).

2. Teacher calls out problems (e.g. 65 – 26).

3. Pupils solve and mark if they have the total.

4. First to cover a row or full card wins — shout “Take it away!”

 

“Take It Away Towers”

Focus: Visualising subtraction as taking away
Resources: Multilink cubes or LEGO bricks, whiteboards

How to Play

1. Pupils build a tower to represent a 2-digit number (e.g. 54 = 5 tens + 4 ones).

2. The partner calls out a smaller number to subtract (e.g. “Take away 28”).

3. Pupils physically remove cubes to show the subtraction — regroup ten into ones if needed.

4. Then record it using column subtraction on whiteboards.

 

“Subtraction Dice Duel”

Focus: Mental and written subtraction
Resources: Dice, whiteboards

How to Play

1. Pupils roll two dice to make a 2-digit number (e.g. 5 and 3 = 53).

2. Roll again for the second number (e.g. 2 and 6 = 26).

3. Write it as a column subtraction and solve.