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Maths Adventures

Arctic maths quest: addition

A story-led junior maths adventure using ice maps, temperature and survival supplies to combine treasures, supplies and scores without losing track.

Quick answer

Arctic maths quest: addition means using addition to solve problems while exploring icy lands, collecting supplies, and tracking temperatures. You'll learn to add numbers together to find totals, scores, and amounts of food or fuel needed to survive the cold.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to add numbers together to solve real-life problems in the Arctic, like counting your supplies, tracking temperatures, and scoring points in your survival game. Success signs:
  • You can add two single-digit numbers together
  • You can add numbers to find totals of supplies or scores
  • You can use addition to solve problems about temperature changes
  • You can work out how many items you have when you collect more

Why this matters

Addition is like putting things together to see how many you have altogether. In the Arctic, you might need to add your snowshoes, your mittens, and your hot chocolate to know how many warm items you have. When you're on a survival quest, you'll add up your food supplies, your points, or how much your temperature has changed. Addition helps you make sure you have enough to stay safe and warm. It's useful in games, cooking, shopping, and even when you're planning a trip.

How it works

Addition means joining numbers together to find a total. When you have some items and get more, you add them together. For example:
  1. Start with 3 ice cubes
  2. Find 2 more ice cubes
  3. Add them together: 3 + 2 = 5 ice cubes
You can use your fingers, blocks, or drawings to help you add. You can also count on from the bigger number. For example, if you have 4 snowballs and get 3 more, start at 4 and count on: 5, 6, 7. So 4 + 3 = 7.

Examples you can see

Here are some Arctic examples of addition: Example 1: Ice cube collection You find 5 ice cubes on the ground. Then you find 3 more ice cubes. How many ice cubes do you have altogether?
  • 5 + 3 = 8 ice cubes
Example 2: Temperature change The temperature was -5°C in the morning. By afternoon, it went up by 7°C. What was the new temperature?
  • -5 + 7 = 2°C
Example 3: Food supplies You have 6 frozen fish in your pack. You find 4 more fish. How many fish do you have now?
  • 6 + 4 = 10 fish
Example 4: Points in a game You score 8 points in one round. In the next round, you score 5 points. How many points do you have in total?
  • 8 + 5 = 13 points

Try it as a mini adventure

Arctic Maths Quest: The Ice Map You are an explorer in the Arctic. You have a map showing ice floes and temperatures. You start with 3 ice floes and find 4 more. What is the total number of ice floes you have?
  1. Start with: 3 ice floes
  2. Find more: 4 ice floes
  3. Add them: 3 + 4 = ?
Next, you see a temperature reading: -2°C. The weather changes and the temperature rises by 5°C. What is the new temperature?
  1. Start with: -2°C
  2. Rise by: +5°C
  3. Add them: -2 + 5 = ?
Then, you collect some frozen berries. You had 7 berries and found 6 more. How many berries do you have now?
  1. Start with: 7 berries
  2. Find more: 6 berries
  3. Add them: 7 + 6 = ?
Finally, you want to know how many points you have from all your collections. You scored 9 points for ice floes, 5 points for berries, and 3 points for temperature readings. How many points do you have altogether?
  1. Ice floes points: 9
  2. Berries points: 5
  3. Temperature points: 3
  4. Add them: 9 + 5 + 3 = ?

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Adding numbers in the wrong order
    Why it happens: Some children think 3 + 5 is different from 5 + 3
    Fix: Remember that 3 + 5 = 8 and 5 + 3 = 8. The order doesn't change the answer.
  • Mistake: Counting the first number twice
    Why it happens: When counting on, children sometimes start at 0 instead of the first number
    Fix: Start counting from the bigger number and count on the smaller number
  • Mistake: Forgetting to carry when adding larger numbers
    Why it happens: When adding numbers that make 10 or more, children may not remember to carry
    Fix: Write down any tens you make and add them to the next column
  • Mistake: Adding with zero
    Why it happens: Some children think adding zero changes the number
    Fix: Remember that any number plus zero equals the same number

Parent and carer guide

To help your child with Arctic maths quest: addition, you can:
  • Use real objects like ice cubes, blocks, or toys to show addition
  • Play games where you add up points or scores
  • Use temperature readings to show how numbers can go up and down
  • Ask your child to count items in your house and add them together
  • Practice adding small numbers daily using fingers or drawings
  • Encourage your child to explain their thinking when solving problems
  • Be patient if they make mistakes – they're learning!
  • Don't worry if they don't get it straight away – practice makes progress
  • Make it fun by turning addition into a game or story

Practice questions

  1. You have 4 snowballs. You find 5 more. How many snowballs do you have?
  2. Temperature was -3°C. It rose by 6°C. What is the new temperature?
  3. You collected 7 frozen berries. You found 3 more. How many berries do you have?
  4. You scored 6 points for ice floes and 4 points for fish. How many points in total?
  5. You had 2 ice cubes. You found 8 more. How many ice cubes do you have?
Answers:
  1. 4 + 5 = 9 snowballs
  2. -3 + 6 = 3°C
  3. 7 + 3 = 10 berries
  4. 6 + 4 = 10 points
  5. 2 + 8 = 10 ice cubes

FAQ

What is addition?

Addition is when you put numbers together to find how many you have altogether. You can add small numbers or big numbers.

How do I add numbers?

You can add numbers by counting on from the bigger number, using your fingers, or drawing pictures. For example, 4 + 3 means start at 4 and count on 3 more: 5, 6, 7.

Why is addition important?

Addition helps you count things, solve problems, and make sure you have enough supplies for your survival quest. It's used in games, cooking, shopping, and everyday life.

What are some real-life examples of addition?

Adding up your points in a game, counting your food supplies, checking how much your temperature changed, or seeing how many toys you have after getting more.

How can I practice addition at home?

You can practice by counting items around your house, playing addition games, using ice cubes or blocks, or making up stories with numbers.