Math lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 60 minutes
Add and subtract multi-digit numbers
Addition and subtraction
CCSS 4.NBT.B.4England: Y5 Addition and subtraction
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Add and subtract multi-digit numbers.
- 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: Column addition and subtraction; Place value to one million
Leads to: Multi-step word problems with whole numbers; Solve equations with a letter for the unknown
Materials: Base-ten blocks, Number lines, Hundred square, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 6 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Column addition and subtraction; Place value to one million). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Use column addition: 4599 + 3059 → 7658Prompt: Line up the digits by place value, ones under ones.
- What is the value of the digit 3 in 303 450? → 3000Prompt: Count the places from the right: ones, tens, hundreds, thousands…
- Use column subtraction: 6552 − 5980 → 572Prompt: Line up the digits. Start with the ones column.
Hook · 6 min
- Give a real shopping total or a score difference and ask for a quick estimate first.
- Share the objective: Add and subtract multi-digit numbers. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 12 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: 51 533 + 425 137 = ?
- Step 1: 51 533 + 425 137 = 476 670
- Answer: 476670
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 12 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- 317 369 + 470 842 = ? → 788211Prompt: Line up the place values and add from the right.
- 433 187 − 186 438 = ? → 246749Prompt: Line up the place values and subtract from the right.
You do: independent practice · 17 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 · 7 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- 307 778 − 16 316 = ? → 291462Prompt: Line up the place values and subtract from the right.
- A town has 47 344 people. In one year 3125 people move away and 6558 move in. What is the new population? → 50777Prompt: Two steps: subtract the people who left, then add those who arrived.
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: Column addition and subtraction.
- 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 word problems with whole numbers; Solve equations with a letter for the unknown.
- 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