Addition and Subtraction: Age 5-7

This is part of our collection of favourite rich tasks arranged by topic.

If you are a teacher, you can find the whole collection on our Primary Curriculum teacher page.
Alternatively, if you are a student, you'll find the same problems on our Primary Curriculum student page.


  • project

    How Many?

    5 to 7
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    This project challenges you to work out the number of cubes hidden under a cloth. What questions would you like to ask?

  • problem
    Favourite

    Two Dice

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    Find all the numbers that can be made by adding the dots on two dice.

  • One Big Triangle
    problem
    Favourite

    One Big Triangle

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    Make one big triangle so the numbers that touch on the small triangles add to 10.

  • Two flowers with the numbers 15 and 16 on them
    problem
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    Butterfly Flowers

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    Can you find two butterflies to go on each flower so that the numbers on each pair of butterflies adds to the number on their flower?

  • What's in a Name?
    problem
    Favourite

    What's in a Name?

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    What do you notice about these squares of numbers? What is the same? What is different?

  • problem
    Favourite

    Robot Monsters

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    Use these head, body and leg pieces to make Robot Monsters which are different heights.

  • Cuisenaire Counting
    problem
    Favourite

    Cuisenaire Counting

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    Here are some rods that are different colours. How could I make a yellow rod using white and red rods?

  • Number Balance
    problem
    Favourite

    Number Balance

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    Can you hang weights in the right place to make the the number balance balanced?

  • Domino Sorting
    problem
    Favourite

    Domino Sorting

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    Try grouping the dominoes in the ways described. Are there any left over each time? Can you explain why?

  • Number Lines
    problem
    Favourite

    Number Lines

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    Leah and Tom each have a number line. Can you work out where their counters will land?

  • Tug of War
    problem
    Favourite

    Tug of War

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    Can you use the numbers on the dice to reach your end of the number line before your partner beats you?

  • Shut the box
    problem
    Favourite

    Shut the Box

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    An old game with lots of arithmetic!

  • Sort them out (1)
    problem
    Favourite

    Sort Them Out (1)

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    Can you each work out the number on your card? What do you notice? How could you sort the cards?

  • Even and odd
    problem
    Favourite

    Even and Odd

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    This activity is best done with a whole class or in a large group. Can you match the cards? What happens when you add pairs of the numbers together?

  • problem
    Favourite

    Pairs of Numbers

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    If you have ten counters numbered 1 to 10, how many can you put into pairs that add to 10? Which ones do you have to leave out? Why?

  • The add and take-away path
    problem
    Favourite

    The Add and Take-Away Path

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    Two children made up a game as they walked along the garden paths. Can you find out their scores? Can you find some paths of your own?

  • What was in the Box?
    problem
    Favourite

    What Was in the Box?

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    This box does something to the numbers that go into it. If you know the numbers that come out, what might be going on inside the box?

  • problem
    Favourite

    Two Numbers Under the Microscope

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    This investigates one particular property of number by looking closely at an example of adding two odd numbers together.

  • Two Spinners
    problem
    Favourite

    Two Spinners

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    What two-digit numbers can you make with these two dice? What can't you make?

  • What Could \It Be?
    problem
    Favourite

    What Could It Be?

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    In this calculation, the box represents a missing digit. What could the digit be? What would the solution be in each case?

  • Unit Differences
    problem
    Favourite

    Unit Differences

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    This challenge is about finding the difference between numbers which have the same tens digit.

  • Five Steps to 50
    problem
    Favourite

    Five Steps to 50

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    Use five steps to count forwards or backwards in 1s or 10s to get to 50. What strategies did you use?

  • Double or Halve?
    problem
    Favourite

    Double or Halve?

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    Throw the dice and decide whether to double or halve the number. Will you be the first to reach the target?

  • Always, Sometimes or Never? KS1
    problem
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    Always, Sometimes or Never? KS1

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    Are these statements relating to calculation and properties of shapes always true, sometimes true or never true?

  • Fruity Pairs
    problem
    Favourite

    Fruity Pairs

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    Which two items of fruit could Kate and Sam choose? Can you order the prices from lowest to highest?

  • Subtraction Slip
    problem
    Favourite

    Subtraction Slip

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    Can you spot the mistake in this video? How would you work out the answer to this calculation?

  • Equivalent Pairs
    problem
    Favourite

    Equivalent Pairs

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    Can you match pairs of cards which show the same amount?

  • problem
    Favourite

    Noah

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    Noah saw 12 legs walk by into the Ark. How many creatures did he see?

  • problem
    Favourite

    Birthday Cakes

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    Jack's mum bought some candles to use on his birthday cakes and when his sister was born, she used them on her cakes too. Can you use the information to find out when Kate was born?

  • Heads and Feet
    problem
    Favourite

    Heads and Feet

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    On a farm there were some hens and sheep. Altogether there were 8 heads and 22 feet. How many hens were there?

  • problem
    Favourite

    Ladybirds in the Garden

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    In Sam and Jill's garden there are two sorts of ladybirds with 7 spots or 4 spots. What numbers of total spots can you make?

  • Eggs in Baskets
    problem
    Favourite

    Eggs in Baskets

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    There are three baskets, a brown one, a red one and a pink one, holding a total of 10 eggs. How many eggs are in each basket?

  • Ring a Ring of Numbers
    problem
    Favourite

    Ring a Ring of Numbers

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    Choose four of the numbers from 1 to 9 to put in the squares so that the differences between joined squares are odd.

  • Making Longer, Making Shorter
    problem
    Favourite

    Making Longer, Making Shorter

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    Ahmed is making rods using different numbers of cubes. Which rod is twice the length of his first rod?

  • Secret Number
    problem
    Favourite

    Secret Number

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    Annie and Ben are playing a game with a calculator. What was Annie's secret number?

  • problem
    Favourite

    Caterpillars

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    These caterpillars have 16 parts. What different shapes do they make if each part lies in the small squares of a 4 by 4 square?

  • Find the Difference
    problem
    Favourite

    Find the Difference

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    Place the numbers 1 to 6 in the circles so that each number is the difference between the two numbers just below it.

  • problem
    Favourite

    The Amazing Splitting Plant

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    Can you work out how many flowers there will be on the Amazing Splitting Plant after it has been growing for six weeks?

  • 2, 4, 6, 8
    problem
    Favourite

    2, 4, 6, 8

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    Using the cards 2, 4, 6, 8, +, - and =, what number statements can you make?

  • Number Round Up
    problem
    Favourite

    Number Round Up

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    Arrange the numbers 1 to 6 in each set of circles below. The sum of each side of the triangle should equal the number in its centre.

  • The tomato and the bean
    problem
    Favourite

    The Tomato and the Bean

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    At the beginning of May, Tom put his tomato plant outside. On the same day he sowed a bean in another pot. When will the two be the same height?

  • problem
    Favourite

    The Brown Family

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    Use the information about Sally and her brother to find out how many children there are in the Brown family.

  • The Tall Tower
    problem
    Favourite

    The Tall Tower

    Age
    5 to 7
    Challenge level
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    As you come down the ladders of the Tall Tower you collect useful spells. Which way should you go to collect the most spells?

  • I'm Eight
    problem
    Favourite

    I'm Eight

    Age
    5 to 11
    Challenge level
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    Find a great variety of ways of asking questions which make 8.

  • Strike it out
    problem
    Favourite

    Strike It Out

    Age
    5 to 11
    Challenge level
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    Use your addition and subtraction skills, combined with some strategic thinking, to beat your partner at this game.

  • Sitting round the party tables
    problem
    Favourite

    Sitting Round the Party Tables

    Age
    5 to 11
    Challenge level
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    Sweets are given out to party-goers in a particular way. Investigate the total number of sweets received by people sitting in different positions.

  • Dotty Six
    problem
    Favourite

    Dotty Six

    Age
    5 to 11
    Challenge level
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    Dotty Six is a simple dice game that you can adapt in many ways.

  • Half Time
    problem
    Favourite

    Half Time

    Age
    5 to 11
    Challenge level
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    What could the half time scores have been in these Olympic hockey matches?

  • Take three numbers
    problem
    Favourite

    Take Three Numbers

    Age
    5 to 11
    Challenge level
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    What happens when you add three numbers together? Will your answer be odd or even? How do you know?