Help the Alien Escape the Tower!

An alien has crash-landed and is trapped at the top of a tall tower! The only way down is to jump from block to block, but each jump requires some quick thinking.

Your mission is to solve the subtraction problem at the top of the screen. Look at the number the alien is standing on and the subtraction question, then click on the block with the correct answer to help the alien jump down safely. Can you solve all the problems and get the alien all the way to the ground?

Why is This Game Great for Learning?

“Alien Escape” is a thrilling adventure that makes practising subtraction fun and exciting. It’s designed to help children:

• Develop Subtraction Fluency: The fast-paced nature of the game encourages children to solve subtraction problems quickly and accurately, building their mental maths skills.
• Understand “Finding the Difference”: By calculating the jumps, children get a visual representation of what it means to subtract and find the difference between two numbers.
• Improve Number Sense: Repeatedly working with numbers in this way helps build a stronger, more intuitive understanding of the number system.
• Boost Confidence: The game-based format, with clear goals and scoring, makes maths practice rewarding and helps build confidence in young learners.

For Teachers and Parents: Meeting Key Stage 1 National Curriculum Objectives

This game is an excellent resource for supporting the National Curriculum for maths, particularly for children in Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2).

• Year 1 Maths: The curriculum requires pupils to “read, write and interpret mathematical statements involving addition (+), subtraction (–) and equals (=) signs” and “subtract one-digit and two-digit numbers to 20, including zero.”
  • How this game helps: “Alien Escape” provides constant, engaging practice in solving subtraction problems within this range, helping children become fluent with their number bonds.
• Year 2 Maths: Pupils must learn to “solve problems with addition and subtraction… applying their increasing knowledge of mental and written methods” and “recall and use subtraction facts to 20 fluently, and derive and use related facts up to 100.”
  • How this game helps: The game directly supports these objectives by presenting subtraction problems that require fluent recall and mental calculation, with numbers extending towards 50.

How to Use This Game

For Teachers:

• Mental Maths Starter: Use the game on the interactive whiteboard as a fun, 5-minute warm-up at the start of a maths lesson.
• Independent Practice: A perfect activity for children to use on tablets or laptops to consolidate their subtraction skills.
• Timed Challenge: Challenge the class to see who can get the highest score, encouraging speed and accuracy.

For Parents:

• Fun Homework Alternative: Turn subtraction practice from a chore into an exciting rescue mission.
• Talk Through the Problems: If your child gets stuck, talk them through it. Ask, “What is 15 take away 3? Let’s count back together.” This reinforces the strategy.
• Beat Your Score: Encourage your child to play again to try and beat their own high score, which is a great way to motivate repeated practice.