Help Year 3 children build secure foundations in addition and subtraction. This Maths topic pack takes pupils from number facts and mental strategies through to formal written column methods and inverse operations — covering key KS2 number skills across ten carefully sequenced lessons.
Pupils explore number facts to 20, making 100, partitioning with number lines, doubles and near doubles, and mental strategies — before progressing to column addition and subtraction, regrouping, borrowing, and using inverse operations to solve mystery number problems.
Included Resources +
This pack includes ten lesson plans with accompanying activity sheets developing addition and subtraction skills, using a hands-on, progressive approach that builds from mental strategies and number bonds through to formal written methods.
Key Details +
• Year Group: Year 3 (ages 7–8)
• Key Stage: KS2
• Subject: Maths
• Resource Type: Activity Sheets + Lesson Plans
• Format: Instant PDF Download
• Number of Activities: 10
Curriculum Alignment +
Aligned to the KS2 Maths National Curriculum. Covers Ma3/2.1b (recognise place value in 3-digit numbers), Ma3/2.2a (add and subtract numbers mentally, including a three-digit number and 1s, 10s, and 100s), Ma3/2.2b (add and subtract numbers with up to 3 digits using formal written methods of columnar addition and subtraction), Ma3/2.2c (estimate answers and use inverse operations to check), and Ma3/2.2e (solve missing number problems using number facts, place value, and more complex addition and subtraction).
Teaching Tips +
The Doubles and Halves lesson works particularly well as a warm-up game before moving to near doubles — the Doubles Card Match is engaging and quick to set up. Addition and Subtraction Dominoes is great for reinforcing multiple mental strategies in one activity; encourage children to explain their reasoning. The Column Addition and Subtraction Model lesson (Lesson 6) is best used as a concrete introduction before moving to Lessons 7 and 8 — keep the column model sheet and counters on hand throughout. Mystery Numbers pairs well with a guided maths discussion about what inverse means in real life. The Woodland Adventure Game makes an excellent end-of-unit consolidation activity, ideal for a paired or small group session.
