L6 Find 1,000 More

This Year 4 Place Value lesson— “Finding 1,000 More” —supports children in developing a secure understanding of how numbers change when 1,000 is added, both within and beyond four-digit numbers. Building on the previous lesson on counting in multiples of 1,000, pupils revisit how only the thousands digit changes when increasing by 1,000 and explore what happens when numbers move into the 10,000s. The lesson begins with comparing how numbers change when counting in 100s versus 1,000s, helping children link prior knowledge to new learning. Using place value charts and counters, teachers model how adding 1,000 affects a four-digit number such as 4,457, and what happens when the thousands digit reaches 9 (e.g., moving from 9,457 to a five-digit number). The modelling also reinforces the importance of placeholders, showing how adding 1,000 to single-digit or two-digit numbers (e.g., 32 → 1,032) requires correct use of zeros in the tens and hundreds columns. During the practical activity, children generate their own four-digit numbers, represent them on a place value chart using counters, and then find 1,000 more. They then extend this by creating every possible number with their digit cards and calculating 1,000 more for each—building confidence and fluency. This supports both procedural accuracy and a deep understanding of place value. In the plenary, pupils examine Rosie’s misconception—believing that 1,000 more than 32 is 132—and discuss how misunderstandings around placeholders can lead to errors. Using place value counters, they correct the mistake and reinforce why the correct answer is 1,032. With key questions, conceptual guidance and clear opportunities for assessment, this worksheet-free lesson helps children master place value relationships and confidently find 1,000 more than any number within 10,000.