1. Subtraction – Objectives
Subtract four-digit numbers by counting up.
© Hamilton Trust Keeping Up Term Week 8 Day 3

2. Subtraction – Direct Teaching
3000 – 1685
1685
3000
2000 15
1000
300
1700
If pupils find the large numbers off-putting, ask them to consider only the last three digits to start the calculation.
How can go straight to the next 100?
(We count on 5 and then 10 in our heads.)
Then we count on to It’s easy to count on from there!
© Hamilton Trust Keeping Up Term Week 8 Day 3

3. Subtraction – Individual Practice
Use ‘counting up’ to solve the following:
3000 – – 2650
2000 – – 2845
6000 – – 976
4000 – – 2252
It is essential here that pupils are hopping to the next multiple of 100 in ONE jump. So 1875 to 1900 is one hop of 25.
Watch out for pupils whose place value is not strong. This means they have difficulty hopping from 1900 to 2000 or from 4600 to 5000.
© Hamilton Trust Keeping Up Term Week 8 Day 3

4. Subtraction – Direct Teaching
3120 – 1565
1565
3120
2000 35
1000
120
400
3000
1600
Some pupils may be able to do just one hop to go from 2000 to 3120 if their understanding of place value is very good.
How can we go straight to the next 100?
(We count on 5 and then 30 in our heads.)
Then we count on to 2000, then we can do 1 or 2 hops to the end.
So 3120 – 1565 = 1555
© Hamilton Trust Keeping Up Term Week 8 Day 3

5. Subtraction – Student Activity
Work in pairs
Choose two number cards from below each.
Put your cards together to create a 4-digit number.
For example with 2, 4, 5 and 7 you can make 4257.
Reverse the digits to create a new number. Write it.
4257 reversed is 7524.
Find the difference between the two numbers.
Each record your calculation and then agree your answer.
Repeat this five times.
It is essential here that pupils are hopping to the next multiple of 100 in ONE jump. So 4257 to 4300 is one hop of 43.
You will need to watch out for pupils whose place value is not strong. This means they have difficulty hopping from 5000 to 7524 in one jump.
They can break it into more than one hop. So 5000 to 7000 and then 7000 to 7524 in a second hop. 8 2 1 4 5 3 9 6 7
© Hamilton Trust Keeping Up Term Week 8 Day 3

6. Subtraction – Individual Practice
Use ‘counting up’ to solve the following:
3241– –2650
2021– –2886
6100– –1058
4583– –2257
It is essential here that pupils are hopping to the next multiple of 100 in ONE jump. So 1875 to 1900 is one hop of 25.
You will need to watch out for pupils whose place value is not strong. This means they have difficulty hopping from 2000 to 3241 in one jump. They can break it into more than one hop. So 2000 to 3000 and then 3000 to 3241.
© Hamilton Trust Keeping Up Term Week 8 Day 3