Are you looking for an activity for your students to practise solving problems using addition and subtraction? At the Bus Stop Addition & Subtraction Mats offers an engaging way for students to apply additive strategies by tracking passengers getting on and off the bus. With a playful theme and differentiated options, this hands-on resource helps students strengthen number fluency while solving real-life problems.

Students use coloured cards (or number-coded cards in the black and white version) to represent passengers boarding or leaving the bus at each stop. They add or subtract as they move from stop to stop, using ten frames to model their working out. At the final stop, they match their working with the correct solution card, reinforcing accuracy and self-checking habits. It’s an excellent tool for developing part-part-whole thinking and number flexibility.

This resource is ideal for use in small groups, as an independent rotation, or even for whole-class modelling of different problem-solving strategies. With multiple mats included, including versions featuring up to four ten frames, you can easily differentiate the level of challenge depending on your students’ needs. Print, prep, and use again and again for practical and purposeful number practise.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Solve addition and subtraction problems using real-life scenarios
• ✅ Develop fluency in counting on, counting back, and using ten frames
• ✅ Apply additive strategies using concrete, visual, and written models
• ✅ Strengthen understanding of part-part-whole relationships
• ✅ Build confidence in reasoning, modelling, and explaining solutions

What’s Included:

• Bus stop play mats with up to four ten frames for varied difficulty
• Coloured passenger cards (and a black and white version using numbers)
• Solution cards for students to match at the final stop
• Instructions and differentiation suggestions

Materials Needed:

• Printed mats and passenger cards (in colour or black and white)
• Whiteboard markers (if using write-and-wipe sleeves)
• Small counters or manipulatives (optional for concrete modelling)
• Laminator or sleeves for repeated use

How to Use:

1. Students select a passenger card for each stop on their mat.
2. They add or subtract the number of passengers shown, using the ten frames to keep track of changes.
3. They record or model their total at each stop, working systematically to the final stop.
4. Students choose the matching solution card to reflect their final total.
5. Repeat the process with different combinations of cards for varied practise.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use in small group rotations for targeted additive strategy practice
• 💡 Introduce during a whole-class lesson on real-life maths problems
• 💡 Include in your intervention toolkit to support students who need hands-on number work
• 💡 Pair students to work collaboratively and check each other's steps
• 💡 Use A3 versions on the floor for kinaesthetic learners using physical movement

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Laminate mats and cards for easy reuse across groups and lessons
• 💛 Create colour-coded card sets to match ability levels or number ranges
• 💛 Encourage students to explain their strategy aloud or draw their steps on mini whiteboards
• 💛 Add a recording sheet for students to write number sentences or reflect on their process

At the Bus Stop Addition & Subtraction Mats is a versatile and engaging resource that brings number operations to life through a familiar context. With hands-on components and real-world application, your students will love solving and modelling problems in a way that makes sense to them.

Looking for more resources to support your students in learning to solve practical problems involving additive situations? Check out our Piggy Bank Subtraction mats or our Money Word Problem Think Boards!