Year 5 Maths Lesson Plan: Multi-Step Addition and Subtraction
Free Year 5 maths lesson plan on solving multi-step addition and subtraction problems including negative numbers and reasoning about answers.
Learning objective
I can solve multi-step addition and subtraction problems and decide which operation to use.
Key vocabulary
- multi-step
- estimate
- inverse
- balance
- negative
Curriculum: National Curriculum 2014: Year 5 Mathematics — Addition, subtraction, and reasoning
Starter (5-10 minutes)
Bar-model warm-up: display three word problems and pupils draw a bar model for each (no calculation yet). Discuss the role of the bar model in clarifying which operation to use.
Main activity (35-40 minutes)
Work through one fully modelled multi-step word problem: 'A bookshop has 12,540 books. In one week they sold 1,287 and received a delivery of 3,500. How many books do they now have?' Show how a bar model clarifies each step. Pupils then solve four problems independently, drawing bar models for each. Move to a problem involving temperature change: 'The temperature was −4°C at 7 a.m. and rose by 11°C by midday. What was the midday temperature?'
Differentiation
Support
Pre-drawn bar-model templates. Limit to two-step problems before introducing three-step.
Core
Solve multi-step problems with up to three operations, drawing a bar model for each.
Stretch
Solve problems involving negative-number calculations and write their own multi-step word problems for a partner to solve.
Plenary (5-10 minutes)
Pupils swap books with a partner and check one another's working using the inverse operation. Discuss any disagreements as a class.
Common misconception to watch for
Pupils often try to operate on negative numbers using only the magnitude (e.g. treating −4 + 11 as 4 + 11 = 15 rather than 7). Use a number line to make the direction of movement visible.
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Generate this lesson freeFrequently asked questions
What is the learning objective of this Year 5 maths lesson?
I can solve multi-step addition and subtraction problems and decide which operation to use.
How long does this addition and subtraction (multi-step problems) lesson take?
60 minutes, structured into a starter, main activity, and plenary. Differentiation guidance is included for support, core, and stretch learners.
Is this lesson plan free to download?
Yes. The full plan is free to read and adapt. You can also generate an editable, fully resourced version in TAyumira's free lesson planner — no credit card required.
Does this lesson cover the UK National Curriculum?
Yes. This plan aligns with National Curriculum 2014: Year 5 Mathematics — Addition, subtraction, and reasoning.
Can I edit this lesson plan for my class?
Yes. Use this as a template and adapt to your class context. To save typing time, generate a customised version in TAyumira's free planner — your class size, ability range, and lesson length are factored in automatically.