Mathematics Addition & Subtractionusually ages 6–7

Addition in any order

Understand and apply the commutative property of addition: addends can be added in any order

How to tell they’ve got it

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

Explain that 3 + 8 gives the same answer as 8 + 3
Use commutativity to choose the larger number to count on from
Demonstrate that subtraction is not commutative (5 − 3 ≠ 3 − 5)

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Try this together

Does your child know that 6 + 4 gives the same answer as 4 + 6, so they can always choose whichever order makes the adding easier?

Where this sits on the map

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

Builds on

Addition as combining or putting together twoages 4–6Understanding commutativity of addition requires understanding addition

Addition in any orderthis skill · ages 6–7

Unlocks

Grouping numbers to addages 6–7Associative property builds on commutative — both involve rearranging addends

Explaining Mathematical Reasoningages 6–7Justifying why a+b=b+a exercises logical mathematical argument

Shape patternsages 6–7Deliberately applying commutativity to make addition easier exercises using structure

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

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

Show candidate curriculum codes · 1 ACARA · 2 NSW · 3 VIC

Australian Curriculum v9 candidate

AC9M3A01low confidenceYear 3 · Algebra

recognise and explain the connection between addition and subtraction as inverse operations, apply to partition numbers and find unknown values in number sentences

NSW syllabus codes & stages only

MA2-AR-02low confidenceMathematics K-10 · Stage 2

MA2-AR-01low confidenceMathematics K-10 · Stage 2

Victorian Curriculum 2.0 codes & levels only

VC2M2A04low confidenceMathematics · Level 2 · Algebra strand

VC2M3A01low confidenceMathematics · Level 3 · Algebra strand

VC2M3A02low confidenceMathematics · Level 3 · Algebra 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

Adding and subtracting tens mentallyages 6–7 Adding Three Small Numbersages 6–7 Adding two two-digit numbersages 6–7 Adding within 100ages 6–7

All Addition & Subtraction skills →