Reception Maths: Stories and checking
Part of the Reception Maths taking away within 10 chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Stories and checking
There are 9 fish in a tank. 4 swim away behind the rocks. How many fish are still in the tank?
Take away 4 from 9. Then check your answer by adding the 4 back. Do you get 9?
Key ideas
- Read the story and find the number taken away.
- Take away, then count what is left.
- Check by adding back.
Key words. Take away means some are removed. The sign − means take away.
Method. Start with all of them. Take away the ones that go, then count what is left.
- Start with 9. Count all the things first.9 in all
- Take away 4. Cross out the ones that are taken away.9 − 4
- Count what is left. Count only the ones that are not crossed out.5 left
- Write the answer. 5
Check. Add them back: 5 + 4 = 9. ✓
Watch out. Count only what is left. Do not count the crossed out ones.
Method. Check your answer by adding the take-away number back on.
- Find the answer: 7 − 2. Take away and count what is left.5
- Add the number taken away. If you added it back, you should get the start again.5 + 2 = 7
- Write the answer. 5
Check. The check works: 5 + 2 = 7. ✓
Watch out. If the check does not give the start number, count again.
Key words. Take away means some are removed. The sign − means take away.
Method. Start with all of them. Take away the ones that go, then count what is left.
- Start with 10. Count all the things first.10 in all
- Take away 6. Cross out the ones that are taken away.10 − 6
- Count what is left. Count only the ones that are not crossed out.4 left
- Write the answer. 4
Check. Add them back: 4 + 6 = 10. ✓
Watch out. Count only what is left. Do not count the crossed out ones.
Watch out
Watch out: a story may use words like “gone”, “away” or “eaten”. These all mean take away.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Make up short stories with toys. Ask: “How many went away? How many are left?” Then count the toys that are left to check.
Exercise 6E Stories and checking
Non-calculatorKey words. Take away means some are removed. The sign − means take away.
Method. Start with all of them. Take away the ones that go, then count what is left.
- Start with 9. Count all the things first.9 in all
- Take away 3. Cross out the ones that are taken away.9 − 3
- Count what is left. Count only the ones that are not crossed out.6 left
- Write the answer. 6
Check. Add them back: 6 + 3 = 9. ✓
Watch out. Count only what is left. Do not count the crossed out ones.
Key words. Take away means some are removed. The sign − means take away.
Method. Start with all of them. Take away the ones that go, then count what is left.
- Start with 10. Count all the things first.10 in all
- Take away 5. Cross out the ones that are taken away.10 − 5
- Count what is left. Count only the ones that are not crossed out.5 left
- Write the answer. 5
Check. Add them back: 5 + 5 = 10. ✓
Watch out. Count only what is left. Do not count the crossed out ones.
Key words. Take away means some are removed. The sign − means take away.
Method. Start with all of them. Take away the ones that go, then count what is left.
- Start with 8. Count all the things first.8 in all
- Take away 0. Cross out the ones that are taken away.8 − 0
- Count what is left. Count only the ones that are not crossed out.8 left
- Write the answer. 8
Check. Add them back: 8 + 0 = 8. ✓
Watch out. Count only what is left. Do not count the crossed out ones.
Key words. Take away means some are removed. The sign − means take away.
Method. Start with all of them. Take away the ones that go, then count what is left.
- Start with 6. Count all the things first.6 in all
- Take away 4. Cross out the ones that are taken away.6 − 4
- Count what is left. Count only the ones that are not crossed out.2 left
- Write the answer. 2
Check. Add them back: 2 + 4 = 6. ✓
Watch out. Count only what is left. Do not count the crossed out ones.
Key words. Take away means some are removed. The sign − means take away.
Method. Start with all of them. Take away the ones that go, then count what is left.
- Start with 5. Count all the things first.5 in all
- Take away 3. Cross out the ones that are taken away.5 − 3
- Count what is left. Count only the ones that are not crossed out.2 left
- Write the answer. 2
Check. Add them back: 2 + 3 = 5. ✓
Watch out. Count only what is left. Do not count the crossed out ones.
Key words. Take away means some are removed. The sign − means take away.
Method. Start with all of them. Take away the ones that go, then count what is left.
- Start with 9. Count all the things first.9 in all
- Take away 1. Cross out the ones that are taken away.9 − 1
- Count what is left. Count only the ones that are not crossed out.8 left
- Write the answer. 8
Check. Add them back: 8 + 1 = 9. ✓
Watch out. Count only what is left. Do not count the crossed out ones.
Method. Use the addition fact to find the take-away answer.
- Look at 4 + 3 = 7. Three was added to 4 to make 7.4 + 3 = 7
- Take 3 away from 7. Taking away the 3 leaves the 4.7 − 3 = 4
- Write the answer. 4
Check. Add back: 4 + 3 = 7. ✓
Watch out. The addition fact helps you check take away.
Method. Use the addition fact to find the take-away answer.
- Look at 2 + 5 = 7. Two was added to 5 to make 7.2 + 5 = 7
- Take 2 away from 7. Taking away the 2 leaves the 5.7 − 2 = 5
- Write the answer. 5
Check. Add back: 5 + 2 = 7. ✓
Watch out. The addition fact helps you check take away.
Key words. Take away means some are removed. The sign − means take away.
Method. Start with all of them. Take away the ones that go, then count what is left.
- Start with 9. Count all the things first.9 in all
- Take away 4. Cross out the ones that are taken away.9 − 4
- Count what is left. Count only the ones that are not crossed out.5 left
- Write the answer. 5
Check. Add them back: 5 + 4 = 9. ✓
Watch out. Count only what is left. Do not count the crossed out ones.
Key words. Take away means some are removed. The sign − means take away.
Method. Start with all of them. Take away the ones that go, then count what is left.
- Start with 6. Count all the things first.6 in all
- Take away 1. Cross out the ones that are taken away.6 − 1
- Count what is left. Count only the ones that are not crossed out.5 left
- Write the answer. 5
Check. Add them back: 5 + 1 = 6. ✓
Watch out. Count only what is left. Do not count the crossed out ones.
Key words. Take away means some are removed. The sign − means take away.
Method. Start with all of them. Take away the ones that go, then count what is left.
- Start with 10. Count all the things first.10 in all
- Take away 6. Cross out the ones that are taken away.10 − 6
- Count what is left. Count only the ones that are not crossed out.4 left
- Write the answer. 4
Check. Add them back: 4 + 6 = 10. ✓
Watch out. Count only what is left. Do not count the crossed out ones.
Method. Count back from 8 until you reach 3. Count the steps.
- Start at 8. That is how many apples she started with.8
- Count back to 3. Count each step as you go down.7, 6, 5, 4, 3
- Count the steps. The number of steps is how many she ate.5 steps
- Write the answer. 5 apples. I counted back from 8 to 3, which is 5 steps.
Check. Check: 3 + 5 = 8. ✓
Watch out. Count back until you reach what is left.