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Maths Adventures

Fairground maths quest: addition

A story-led junior maths adventure using rides, tickets and chance games to combine treasures, supplies and scores without losing track.

Quick answer

You can use addition to count up all the tickets, treats, and prizes you collect on a fairground adventure!

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to add up different amounts of things you collect on a fairground trip – like tickets, sweets, and prizes – to find out how much you have in total. Success signs:
  • You can count and add up small numbers of items
  • You can use pictures or objects to help you add
  • You can solve simple addition problems about fairground things
  • You can check your answer by counting again

Why this matters

Addition helps you keep track of all the fun things you collect on a fairground adventure! When you go to the fair, you might win prizes, buy treats, or collect tickets. Addition helps you know exactly how many things you have all together. This is useful not just at the fair, but in everyday life – like when you're sharing snacks with friends or counting your pocket money.

How it works

Addition is when you put things together to find out how many you have altogether. Here’s how it works:
  1. First, you look at the first group of things
  2. Then, you look at the second group of things
  3. You count them all together
  4. You write down the total number

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine you’re on a fairground adventure. Here are some examples of how addition works: Example 1: Tickets You have 3 tickets from the carousel and 2 more from the Ferris wheel. How many tickets do you have altogether?
  • First group: 3 tickets
  • Second group: 2 tickets
  • Added together: 3 + 2 = 5 tickets
Example 2: Sweets You buy 4 apple slices and 3 banana slices from the sweet stall. How many slices do you have?
  • First group: 4 apple slices
  • Second group: 3 banana slices
  • Added together: 4 + 3 = 7 slices
Example 3: Prizes You win 5 stickers from the ring toss game and 3 small toys from the duck pond. How many prizes do you have?
  • First group: 5 stickers
  • Second group: 3 toys
  • Added together: 5 + 3 = 8 prizes

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: The Fairground Treasure Hunt You are going on a fairground treasure hunt! You start with 2 tickets. Then you find 3 more tickets on the swings. Next, you win 1 prize from the ring toss game. After that, you buy 2 more tickets from the candy shop. Finally, you collect 4 more prizes from the funhouse. Let’s add them all up:
  1. Start with: 2 tickets
  2. Find on swings: + 3 tickets
  3. Win prize: + 1 prize
  4. Buy from candy shop: + 2 tickets
  5. Collect from funhouse: + 4 prizes
Now, let’s count everything you have:
  • Tickets: 2 + 3 + 2 = 7 tickets
  • Prizes: 1 + 4 = 5 prizes
How many total things did you collect?
  • Tickets: 7
  • Prizes: 5
  • Total: 7 + 5 = 12 things

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Forgetting to count all the items you have
    Why it happens: When you’re excited about a fairground adventure, you might forget to count everything.
    Fix: Make a list or draw pictures of everything you collect, then count them all again.
  • Mistake: Adding the wrong numbers
    Why it happens: Sometimes we might add 3 + 2 and say it’s 6 instead of 5.
    Fix: Use your fingers or small objects to help you count. Count slowly and carefully.
  • Mistake: Mixing up prizes and tickets
    Why it happens: If you collect different types of things, it can be confusing to keep track.
    Fix: Keep separate piles or groups for each type of thing. Add them up separately.

Parent and carer guide

As a parent or carer, you can help your child practice addition by:
  • Playing a fairground game at home using coins or toys to add up
  • Counting the number of items in your shopping basket and adding them up
  • Using a calculator to check answers, but not to do the work
  • Encouraging your child to explain how they solved a problem
  • Repeating the same kind of addition problems in different contexts
What to say:
  • “How many things did you collect?”
  • “Can you show me how you counted them?”
  • “Let’s add them all together and see what we get!”
What not to worry about:
  • Your child might make a mistake – that’s part of learning!
  • They might count slowly – that’s okay, they’re being careful
  • They might need help – that’s normal and helpful

Practice questions

  1. You win 4 stickers from the ring toss game and 3 stickers from the duck pond. How many stickers do you have altogether?
  2. You collect 2 tickets from the carousel and 5 tickets from the Ferris wheel. How many tickets do you have?
  3. You buy 6 apple slices and 2 banana slices from the sweet stall. How many slices do you have?
  4. You win 1 prize from the ring toss game and 4 prizes from the funhouse. How many prizes do you have?
  5. You start with 3 tickets and find 2 more tickets on the swings. How many tickets do you have?
Answers:
  1. 4 + 3 = 7 stickers
  2. 2 + 5 = 7 tickets
  3. 6 + 2 = 8 slices
  4. 1 + 4 = 5 prizes
  5. 3 + 2 = 5 tickets

FAQ

What is addition?

Addition is when you put numbers or things together to find out how many you have in total.

Why do we need to add up things at the fairground?

Adding helps you keep track of all the fun things you collect, like tickets, sweets, and prizes, so you know exactly how much you have.

Can I use addition for things other than fairground items?

Yes! You can use addition for anything – like counting your toys, your pocket money, or the number of friends you invite to your birthday party.

How can I practice addition at home?

You can practice by counting your snacks, toys, or coins and adding them up with a parent or friend.

What if I get the answer wrong?

That’s okay! Making mistakes is part of learning. You can always check your answer or ask someone to help you.