Understanding “Ten Less and Ten More” in Early Mathematics
The concepts of “ten less” and “ten more” are fundamental building blocks for young learners. In Year 2, children begin to explore these ideas alongside place‑value knowledge and mental‑math strategies. Mastering ten less and ten more helps pupils develop confidence when working with larger numbers, supports subtraction of multiples, and prepares them for more complex arithmetic.
Why Ten Less and Ten More Matter
When a child can instantly recognise that 27 is ten more than 17 or that 84 is ten less than 94, they are using a mental‑math shortcut that reduces reliance on written calculations. This skill:
- Strengthens number sense and estimation.
- Accelerates addition and subtraction fluency.
- Links directly to place‑value understanding, especially the tens column.
Connecting Ten Less/More to Place Value
Place‑value videos often introduce the idea that numbers are built from “tens” and “ones”. A typical continuation video, recorded with Screencast‑O‑Matic, shows learners how to add ten more by moving one block from the ones column to the tens column. For example, adding ten to 45 becomes 55 because the tens digit increases from 4 to 5 while the ones digit stays the same.
Similarly, subtracting ten less involves moving a block from the tens column back to the ones column. If a child sees 63 and is asked to find ten less, they mentally shift one ten to the ones place, resulting in 53. This visual approach aligns with the statement “In Year 2, children learn to subtract multiples of ten” and reinforces the concept that tens are interchangeable units.
Practical Classroom Activities
Teachers can embed ten less and ten more practice in several engaging ways:
- Video and Seesaw Follow‑Up: After watching the instructional video, students complete a Seesaw activity that asks them to identify ten more or ten less for a series of numbers. The interactive format provides immediate feedback.
- Number Line Jumps: Using a large floor number line, pupils jump forward ten spaces for “ten more” and backward ten spaces for “ten less”. This kinesthetic activity solidifies the distance concept.
- Card Sort: Provide cards with numbers ranging from 10 to 100. Students pair each card with another that is ten more or ten less, reinforcing quick recognition.
- Story Problems: Pose real‑world scenarios, such as “You have 38 stickers
