A fill-in-the-blanks story about inverse operations for Year 2 maths. Pupils complete Detective Digit's tale with ten missing words about how addition and subtraction undo each other, then use the inverse to check 45 + 12 = 57 and explain why 10 - 2 is not the same as 2 - 10. Answers included. Matches three England National Curriculum objectives.
Number - addition and subtraction
“Recognise and use the inverse relationship between addition and subtraction and use this to check calculations and solve missing number problems”
The story explains the idea and the checking question applies it.
Number - addition and subtraction
“Show that addition of two numbers can be done in any order (commutative) and subtraction of one number from another cannot”
The final question asks pupils to explain why 10 - 2 and 2 - 10 differ.
Number - addition and subtraction
“Recall and use addition and subtraction facts to 20 fluently, and derive and use related facts up to 100”
The gaps in the story rest on known facts.
A cloze story with ten gaps about addition and subtraction working as a team.
Pupils write the checking calculation for 45 + 12 = 57, then explain why order matters in subtraction.
All ten story gaps plus answers for both Your Turn questions.
Plenary
Read the story together, then let pupils fill the gaps to close the lesson.
Homework
The story format keeps it accessible without an adult explaining the maths.
Assessment check
The Your Turn questions show who can actually use the inverse, not just name it.
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