Identify knowns and unknowns in addition equations
I can identify knowns and unknowns in addition equations.
Identify knowns and unknowns in addition equations
I can identify knowns and unknowns in addition equations.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- If the sum is missing, you add the addends.
- If an addend is missing, subtract the other addend from the sum to calculate the missing value.
- When the numbers are close together, add on to find the difference.
Keywords
Addend - An addend is a number added to another.
Sum - The sum is the the total when numbers are added together.
Difference - The difference is the result after subtracting one number from another.
Common misconception
Pupils may confuse the parts and the whole in an equation, especially when there is a missing number.
Bar models are helpful for representing and understanding the parts and the whole. Ensure that pupils understand that minuend and sum both represent a whole. Allow lots of opportunities for pupils to sketch bar models.
To help you plan your year 3 maths lesson on: Identify knowns and unknowns in addition equations, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 3 maths lesson on: Identify knowns and unknowns in addition equations, 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 Understand additive relationships and apply them to rearrange equations unit, dive into the full secondary maths curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions




Exit quiz
6 Questions
A number added to another.
The result after subtracting one number from another.
The total when numbers are added together.


