Learning Map
MathematicsAddition & Subtractionusually ages 4–6

Addition as combining or putting together two

Understand addition as combining or putting together two groups to find the total

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

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Try this together

If your child has 4 toy cars and a friend brings 3 more, do they understand that adding means combining both groups — and can they tell you there are now 7 cars altogether?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on
How Many in Total?ages 4–6Understanding addition as combining groups requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)
Addition as combining or putting together twothis skill · ages 4–6
Unlocks
Numbers up to 10 into pairsages 4–6Decomposing numbers into pairs requires understanding addition as combining
Representing Addition and Subtractionages 4–6Representing addition with objects/drawings requires understanding what addition means
Fluent adding and subtracting within 5ages 5–6Fluency with addition within 5 requires understanding addition as combining
Multiplication as repeated additionages 5–6Multiplication as repeated addition requires understanding addition as combining groups
Reading +, −, and = symbolsages 5–6Reading/writing the + symbol requires understanding what addition means
Addition and subtraction strategiesages 6–7Counting on as an addition strategy requires understanding addition

+ 8 more in Addition & Subtraction →

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Candidate matches to official curriculum codes — machine-suggested, unreviewed (v0.1).

Show candidate curriculum codes · 3 ACARA · 2 NSW · 3 VIC

Australian Curriculum v9 candidate

AC9MFN05medium confidenceFoundation · Number

represent practical situations involving addition, subtraction and quantification with physical and virtual materials and use counting or subitising strategies

AC9M1N06low confidenceYear 1 · Number

use mathematical modelling to solve practical problems involving equal sharing and grouping; represent the situations with diagrams, physical and virtual materials, and use calculation strategies to solve the problem

AC9M2A02low confidenceYear 2 · Algebra

recall and demonstrate proficiency with addition facts to 20; extend and apply facts to develop related subtraction facts

NSW syllabus codes & stages only

MAE-CSQ-01high confidenceMathematics K-10 · Early Stage 1
MA1-CSQ-01medium confidenceMathematics K-10 · Stage 1

Victorian Curriculum 2.0 codes & levels only

VC2M1N06low confidenceMathematics · Level 1 · Number strand
VC2M2A02low confidenceMathematics · Level 2 · Algebra strand
VC2M1N04low confidenceMathematics · Level 1 · Number strand

These are candidate alignments generated by semantic matching — machine-suggested and unreviewed (v0.1), not official or verified mappings. For official curriculum content see australiancurriculum.edu.au, curriculum.nsw.edu.au and f10.vcaa.vic.edu.au. Don’t rely on them for registration or compliance purposes.

Nearby on the map

Addition and subtraction word problemsages 4–6 Number bonds to 9ages 4–6 Numbers up to 10 into pairsages 4–6 Representing Addition and Subtractionages 4–6

All Addition & Subtraction skills →