Represent a change story using addition and subtraction symbols
I can represent a change story using addition and subtraction symbols.
Represent a change story using addition and subtraction symbols
I can represent a change story using addition and subtraction symbols.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- A change can be positive or negative.
- A change can be represented by a negative number.
Keywords
Positive change - An overall amount has increased.
Negative change - An overall amount has decreased.
Negative number - Any value less than zero.
Common misconception
Pupils believe that subtraction is commutative and therefore equations can be written in any order.
Model with physical resources such as marbles in a bag that 4 - 6 results in a negative change but 6 - 4 results in a positive change.
To help you plan your year 5 maths lesson on: Represent a change story using addition and subtraction symbols, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 5 maths lesson on: Represent a change story using addition and subtraction symbols, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 maths lessons from the Negative numbers unit, dive into the full secondary maths curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions
one number, calculation or expression is equal to another
the result of subtracting one number from another
finding the total, or sum, by combining two or more numbers
make something different
Exit quiz
6 Questions

the number of marbles added to the bag
the number of marbles taken out of the bag
the change in the number of marbles