Looking for a way to get your students up and moving while practising addition and subtraction? Our Swimming Under the Sea: Addition & Subtraction Task Card Activity is the perfect way to combine maths learning with classroom movement and engagement!

This interactive resource allows students to explore problem solving through addition and subtraction as they search for and solve underwater-themed task cards placed around the classroom. With colourful sea creatures and flexible card formats, students will love solving maths challenges while getting a change of pace from traditional worksheets. This resource is ideal for reinforcing number facts, inverse operations, and encouraging mathematical thinking in an active, hands-on way.

Designed for use in whole class, small group, or individual settings, this resource includes two differentiated task card sets: one focused on simple addition number sentences with matching sea creature illustrations, and one focused on inverse operations where students must use visual counting to create both addition and subtraction number sentences. It’s a versatile and low-prep activity that’s perfect for a maths rotation, warm-up or independent practise session!

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Solve addition problems to 20 using number sentences and visual representations
• ✅ Understand and apply the relationship between addition and subtraction
• ✅ Practise writing number sentences independently
• ✅ Use problem solving strategies to interpret visual maths representations
• ✅ Develop independence and responsibility through task card exploration

What’s Included:

• 12 task cards with addition number sentences and matching sea creature images
• 12 inverse operation task cards with sea creature collections only
• Student recording sheets for both task card sets
• Clear instructions for setup and implementation

Materials Needed:

• Printed task cards (laminate for reuse)
• Printed recording sheets (one per student)
• Pencils or markers for completing the task
• Blu-tack or pegs to display cards around the room
• Optional: clipboards for easy recording on the go

How to Use:

1. Choose whether your class will complete the addition or inverse operation task cards.
2. Print and display the task cards around the classroom.
3. Distribute the corresponding recording sheets to each student.
4. Students move around the room, solving each task card and recording their answers.
5. Use completed recording sheets for formative assessment or group discussion.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use as a warm-up maths hunt before your main lesson.
• 💡 Add to your maths rotations for engaging small group practise.
• 💡 Use the inverse cards to support students learning about fact families.
• 💡 Encourage peer support by having students work in pairs to discuss strategies.
• 💡 Set a timer and turn it into a friendly competition to boost engagement.

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Laminate the cards so they can be reused year after year.
• 💛 Differentiate by assigning task card sets based on student needs.
• 💛 Extend by having students write their own sea creature number sentences.
• 💛 Incorporate movement breaks between sets to keep energy levels high.

Swimming Under the Sea: Addition & Subtraction Task Card Activity is a fun, flexible and active way to reinforce core maths concepts while making learning hands-on and highly engaging for your students!