Year 6 Four operations

Boost your class’s fluency and reasoning in all four operations with active outdoor challenges, from pyramid puzzles and team games to exciting code-breaking activities. With minimal resources and maximum movement, these lessons make mental maths, problem-solving, and collaboration both fun and memorable.

Lesson Plans

Adding and subtracting whole numbers

Develop your children’s fluency of addition and subtraction through pyramid puzzles and team games. This outdoor lesson gives your children plenty of opportunity to perform mental calculations, while requiring very little preparation.

Learning objective:

To add and subtract whole numbers.

Multiplying numbers with up to 4 digits

The main activity of this outdoor lesson requires your children to apply their reasoning skills for multiplication to complete paired challenges. This lesson requires minimal resources and engages your children through active learning.

Learning objective:

To multiply numbers with up to 4 digits.

The four operations with numbers up to 4 digits

Have your children apply their skills in performing mental calculations for numbers with up to 4 digits, using the four operations, with this outdoor lesson. Offering a chance to learn through physical movement and maths games.

Learning objective:

To add, subtract, multiply and divide numbers with up to 4 digits.

Solving word problems involving all four operations

Develop your children’s problem solving skills through a ‘code breaking’ activity! This fun and engaging outdoor lesson gives them an opportunity to practise using all four operations as well as their reasoning skills.

Learning objective:

To solve word problems involving all four operations.

Performing calculations with all four operations

During this outdoor lesson, your children will create and follow exciting treasure hunts around your space, offering them the opportunity to practise using both mental and formal written methods in a fun way!

Learning objective:

To perform calculations with all four operations.

Before you get started

Safety and suistanability is super important!