Number Triples - Addition and Subtraction

This little number hunt activity could be used as a paired-starter, or as a game.

The focus is on finding trios of numbers which can be used to create addition and/or subtraction sentences.

For example, 4, 6, 10 are triples since they can be used as the basis for the following simple calculations:
 

10 = 4 + 6

10 = 6 + 4

6 = 10 - 4

4 = 10 - 6

The children work on an A5 laminated card which shows a grid of 25 numbers. The challenge is for them to use a wipe-off pen to find and mark as many triples as they can. Looking for numbers that are adjacent to each other, horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

The activity can be used as a game; children take it in turns to mark off triples (using different coloured pens), and the player who manages to find the last set of numbers is the winner.

As a follow-up, the children could write out some of the triples as number sentences, though this is not strictly necessary since most of the maths work has already been done when finding and talking about the numbers. A better follow-up would be to ask the children to design their own 'triples' board; they could even be challenged to create one which had (say) exactly 12 triples... no more, no less. Then their partner tests this out for them!

The downloadable pdf contains 6 different Triples Grids, together with instructions for using the activity as a game. As always, the numbers used are not generated at random, but specifically chosen to give enough of a challenge to the children. Here's an image of the first two:

We have a related file (from the DFES) on mathsticks/extra. 

We have also compiled a further set of 8 grids for our Mathstick+ members, see the Mathsticks+ buttons below.

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