A cloze worksheet on estimating and checking with inverse operations for Year 3 maths. Pupils fill 11 gaps in a short story about Leo rounding a shopping total, with one distractor word in the bank. Two follow-up questions then ask them to define an inverse operation in their own words and say why estimating first helps. Answers included. Matches the England National Curriculum estimating and checking objective.
Number — addition and subtraction
“Estimate the answer to a calculation and use inverse operations to check answers”
The whole story walks through estimating first, then checking with the inverse.
Number — addition and subtraction
“Solve problems, including missing number problems, using number facts, place value, and more complex addition and subtraction”
The story is framed as a practical shopping problem.
An 11-gap cloze about estimating a total and checking it, with one distractor in the word bank.
Write a sentence explaining what an inverse operation is, and why estimating first is useful.
The correct word sequence plus example answers for both writing questions.
Introducing checking
Read the story together the first time you teach inverse operations.
Homework
The cloze format needs no equipment and marks quickly against the key.
Plenary
Use the two Your Turn questions as an exit ticket.
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