Santa's Sums
Santa’s Sums is a Christmas maths matching game where Year 1 and 2 students pair addition and subtraction number sentences with their answers to build a complete Santa.
Each Santa is cut in half. The top half shows a number sentence, such as 12 + 9 or 28 - 14, and the bottom half shows an answer. Students work out each sum and find the matching legs to put Santa back together, and a Christmas number line from 1 to 40 is included so students can count on or back as they work. It’s a quick way to practise adding and subtracting with numbers up to 40.
At a glance: a 19-page printable set of Santa top and bottom cards and a Christmas number line. Print and cut once, laminate if you like, and it’s ready to bring out every December.
Use it in maths rotations, as a fast finisher activity, as a partner game, or as a calm maths activity in the last weeks of Term 4.
Learning goals
- We are learning to add and subtract numbers within 20, using a variety of strategies, e.g. counting on, counting back, partitioning, subitising and part-part whole knowledge of numbers to 10 and to use the language of 'plus' and 'minus' in story problems.
- We are learning to add and subtract one- and two-digit numbers, using a variety of strategies, e.g. partitioning, doubles, near doubles, bridging to 10 and rearranging and regrouping of numbers.
Curriculum alignment
Australian Curriculum covers QLD / SA / WA / NT / TAS / ACT.