Math lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 45 minutes
Add numbers with more than four digits
Addition and subtraction
CCSS 4.NBT.B.4England: Y5 Addition and subtraction
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Add numbers with more than four digits.
- 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: Add four-digit numbers in columns; Place value names up to hundred thousands
Leads to: Multi-step addition and subtraction problems with large numbers
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 (Add four-digit numbers in columns; Place value names up to hundred thousands). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- 3801 + 3511 = ? → 7312Prompt: Line up the digits by place value.
- In 639 047, which place is the digit 4 in? (ten thousands / tens / ones / hundreds) → tensPrompt: The places in a group of three are hundreds, tens, ones — for thousands too.
- Aisha's family drove 4016 km on holiday last year and 2778 km this year. What is the total distance? → 6794Prompt: Add the two distances.
Hook · 5 min
- Give a real shopping total or a score difference and ask for a quick estimate first.
- Share the objective: Add numbers with more than four digits. 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: 438 155 + 205 790 = ?
- Step 1: ones: 5 + 0 = 5
- Step 2: tens: 5 + 9 = 14, carry 1
- Step 3: hundreds: 1 + 7 + 1 = 9
- Step 4: thousands: 8 + 5 = 13, carry 1
- Step 5: ten thousands: 3 + 0 + 1 = 4
- Step 6: hundred thousands: 4 + 2 = 6
- Step 7: 438 155 + 205 790 = 643 945
- Answer: 643945
- 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.
- 203 843 + 78 346 = ? → 282189Prompt: Line up the digits from the right.
- A music festival sold 18 317 tickets on Friday, 35 732 on Saturday and 7315 on Sunday. How many tickets were sold altogether? → 61364Prompt: Add the first two numbers, then add the third.
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.
- 83 988 + 41 195 = ? → 125183Prompt: Line up the digits from the right.
- A music festival sold 18 179 tickets on Friday, 12 058 on Saturday and 6643 on Sunday. How many tickets were sold altogether? → 36880Prompt: Add the first two numbers, then add the third.
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: Add four-digit numbers in columns.
- 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: Multi-step addition and subtraction problems with large numbers.
- 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-4.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder