·  Cut the sheets down the middle and slide each half into a sealed DL-sized envelope with one end cut open.

·  Learners pull out the ‘ladder’ one bit at a time as they mentally solve each step.

·  Correct answer is exposed at the bottom.

·  Play in pairs as a possible alternative. Both learners work out the answers and check each other at the end.

·  Laminate for extra sturdiness.

·  Feel free to edit the document as you wish

Numbers to 20 Numbers to 100

Numbers to 999

·  Numbers up to 50

Start with 9 / Start with 10
Double it / Double it
Add 2 / Add 15
Subtract 5 / Subtract 3
Add 10 / Halve it
Subtract 13 / Add 2
Halve it / Subtract 8
Ready to check? / Ready to check?
The answer is 6 / The answer is 10


Numbers less than 20

Start with 4 / Start with 8
Double it / Double it
Add 1 more / Add 2 more
Subtract 3 / Take away 4
Add 10 / Halve it
Subtract 12 / Add 2
Halve it / Subtract 8
Ready to check? / Ready to check?
The answer is 2 / The answer is 1


Numbers up to 100

Start with 25 / Start with 40
Double it / Halve it
Add 20 / Add 15
Take away 40 / Subtract 25
Halve it / Double it
Subtract 5 / Add 33
Halve it / Subtract 5
Ready to check? / Ready to check?
The answer is 5 / The answer is 48


Numbers up to 999

or / or
Start with 36 / Start with 88
Double it / Halve it
Add 12 / Add 19
Take away 46 / Subtract 15
Halve it / Double it
Subtract 15 / Add 233
Add 428 / Subtract 5
Ready to check? / Ready to check?
The answer is 432 / The answer is 324


Numbers up to 999

Start with 150 / Start with 410
Double it / Halve it
Add 98 / Add 215
Take away 258 / Subtract 190
Halve it / Double it
Subtract 50 / Add 72
Add 25 / Subtract 41
Ready to check? / Ready to check?
The answer is 45 / The answer is 491

Numbers up to 100

Start with 7 / Start with 20
Double it / Double it
Double your answer / Double your answer
Subtract 5 / Add 15
Add 30 / Subtract 45
Subtract 13 / Halve it
Halve it / Subtract 13
Ready to check? / Ready to check?
The answer is 20 / The answer is 12


Numbers up to 200

or / or
Start with 36 / Start with 19
Halve it / Add 60
Add 50 / Subtract 25
Subtract 17 / Add 16
Add 24 / Subtract 35
Subtract 25 / Add 5
Halve it / Halve it
Ready to check? / Ready to check?
The answer is 50 / The answer is 20

South African Numeracy Chair Project 2013