Adding and Subtracting to 20

An excellent way to speed up basic addition and subtraction!

Instructions to practice addition and subtraction to 10:

• Copy and laminate the number cards. Only use cards 1 to 10. Cut them out to create ‘packs’ of number cards. Each pack must contain 2 of each number (so make sure there are 20 cards in each pack).
• Children must work in pairs: Give each ‘pair’ a shuffled pack of number cards and 2 answer sheets (called ‘add numbers to 10’ and ‘subtract numbers to 10’). One child must be the ‘questioner’ (they hold the answer sheets and number cards); the other child is the ‘answerer’… they answer the questions (they don’t hold anything).
• The ‘questioner’ takes 2 cards from the top of the pile and says ‘ADD’ or ‘DIFFERENCE’. If the ‘questioner’ says ‘ADD’, the answerer must add the numbers. If the questioner says ‘DIFFERENCE’, the answerer must take the smaller number away from the larger number. The questioner must always check the answer using the answer sheets in front of them. This continues until the teacher says ‘CHANGE PLACES’. At this point, the children change roles (the answerer becomes the questioner and vice versa).

Instructions to add and subtract to 20:

SAME AS ABOVE EXCEPT …

• Copy and laminate the number cards (cards 1 to 20). Cut them out to create packs of number cards. Each pack must contain 2 of each number (so make sure there are 40 cards in each pack).
• Children must work in pairs: Give each ‘pair’ a shuffled pack of number cards and 2 answer sheets ( ‘add numbers to 20’ and ‘subtract numbers to 20’).

*I have used this method for 10 years and the results have been excellent. There is no marking involved and the children really enjoy being IN CHARGE of their own learning.