Math lesson plan · 2nd grade (Year 3 in England) · 45 minutes
Find a difference by counting up
Addition and subtraction
CCSS 2.NBT.B.5CCSS 2.NBT.B.9England: Y2 Addition and subtractionEngland: Y3 Addition and subtraction
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Find a difference by counting up.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Subtract by thinking of an addition; Add tens to a two-digit number
Leads to: Find the missing number in additions and subtractions to 100
Materials: Base-ten blocks, Number lines, Hundred square, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Subtract by thinking of an addition; Add tens to a two-digit number). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- 5 + 2 = 7. Use this to find 7 − 5. → 2Prompt: 5 and what make 7?
- To work out 15 − 7, think: 7 + __ = 15 → 8Prompt: Count up from 7 to 15.
- 6 + 4 = 10. Use this to find 10 − 6. → 4Prompt: 6 and what make 10?
Hook · 5 min
- Give a real shopping total or a score difference and ask for a quick estimate first.
- Share the objective: Find a difference by counting up. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 10 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: 59 − 53 = ?
- Step 1: 53 + 6 = 59
- Step 2: 6
- Answer: 6
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 10 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- 70 − 63 = ? → 7Prompt: The numbers are close together.
- Ava has scored 51 points in a game. The target is 90. How many more points are needed? → 39Prompt: 51 + ? = 90
You do: independent practice · 10 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- 51 − 44 = ? → 7Prompt: The numbers are close together.
- Sofia has scored 41 points in a game. The target is 67. How many more points are needed? → 26Prompt: 41 + ? = 67
Watch out for
- Subtracting the smaller digit from the bigger one in every column (52 − 17 = 45).
- Forgetting to add the regrouped (carried) ten.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Subtract by thinking of an addition.
- Use concrete materials: base-ten blocks.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Find the missing number in additions and subtractions to 100.
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-2.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder