Number lines are used to teach children counting, addition, and subtraction. They start with numbered lines up to 10 or 20, then progress to empty number lines for larger problems. The empty number line method helps children visualize and record the steps in a calculation. Different strategies like splitting numbers into tens and ones are demonstrated on empty number lines and discussed among children.

1. Fun with Maths – Number Lines

2. What are number lines?
• Children are introduced to number lines in the Foundation Stage
• They will start using number tracks or lines which have the numbers in order
on them usually up to 10 or 20.
• These lines are used for counting and simple addition and subtraction
calculations. Often children will move counters or little toys along the lines.
• Children will then progress to a marked number line: 11 + 3 = 14

3. Empty Number Lines
• Once the numbers get too large to count on in jumps of 1s. Children are
taught to use an empty number line which is a visual image for recording a
child’s mental calculation process.
• The empty number line method helps to record the steps on the way to
calculating the total. The biggest number is written on the left and the smaller
number is added on tens and units (ones)
• There are many different mental calculation strategies that children are
taught and many ways to represent these on the empty number lines.
• Children are encouraged to discuss their methods with each other so they
can share their strategies.
• The next few slides demonstrate some of these different methods.

4. Addition on a number line

5. Harder Addition ( KS2)

6. Subtraction on a number line

7. Harder Subtraction (KS2)

8. Number Lines Assessment Activity
Have a go at some number line calculations yourself
Addition
• 6 + 5 =
• 12 + 6 =
• 27 + 18 =
• 86 + 33
• 127 + 75
Subtraction
• 12 – 9 =
• 20 – 8 =
• 82 – 36 =
• 98 – 49 =
• 185 – 72 =
Once you are confident with the number line method take a photo of an addition and a subtraction
calculation and upload it to the Padlet in this section.
Click the arrow to go to the Padlet