Parent guide · Grade 1 Math · Unit 4
Lesson 4.4 Two-Step Stories with Small Numbers
Written for the parent. Read the Say this lines aloud as they are, or in your own words. Answers for you are marked Listen for.
At a glance
- Time
- 5 sessions of 20–25 minutes
- Goal
- Solve stories that take two steps.
- You need
- Pencil and crayons
- A King James Bible
- Worksheet A · Worksheet B · the lesson page (it also has a short video (3:51))
Steps
Do this: Ask these out loud. Your child answers out loud; no paper needed.
- Ask: “1 + 7” Listen for: 8
- Ask: “3 + 2” Listen for: 5
- Ask: “5 + 7” Listen for: 12
- Ask: “7 + 1” Listen for: 8
- Ask: “1 + 8” Listen for: 9
Say this: “Some stories need two steps: first find one amount, then use it to answer the question.”
Say this: “Write the first answer down before you start the second step.”
Say this: “Step: one part of solving a problem.”
Show: Farmer Eli gathered 15 eggs in the morning and 10 eggs in the evening. How many eggs did he gather in all?
Say this: “Unknown: the total.”
Say this: “Bar model: two parts, 15 and 10; the whole is unknown.”
Say this: “Equation: 15 + 10 = ?”
Say this: “15 + 10 = 25”
Say this: “Answer: Eli gathered 25 eggs in all.”
Answer: 25 eggs. Eli gathered 25 eggs in all.
Show: The miller had 7 sacks. A farmer brought 5 more. Then 8 sacks were sold. How many sacks does the miller have now?
Say this: “Unknown: how many at the end.”
Say this: “Step 1: 7 + 5 = 12”
Say this: “Step 2: 12 − 8 = 4”
Say this: “Answer: The miller has 4 sacks now.”
Answer: 4 sacks. The miller has 4 sacks now.
Do this: Your child does these with you. Let them try first; help only after a real try.
Ask: 3 + 2 + 5 = ___
Listen for: 10
If stuck: 3 + 2 = 5
Ask: 1 + 5 + 2 = ___
Listen for: 8
If stuck: 1 + 5 = 6
Ask: 1 + 5 + 1 = ___
Listen for: 7
If stuck: 1 + 5 = 6
7 more practice items on the lesson page, and on Worksheet A and Worksheet B.
- Stopping after the first step.
You give a number sentence like 9 − 4 = 5. Your child tells a farm or Bible story that fits it. Then swap.
Say this: “Tell me what you learned today. Show me with your hands or the counters if you like.”
Listen for: Solve stories that take two steps.
Tell one story problem aloud every day at a meal: “There were 7 rolls and Father ate 2…”
Spread over the week
5 sessions of 20–25 minutes. Stop while it is still going well.
- Session 1. Warm-up, then teach the new idea (steps 1 and 2).
- Session 2. Warm-up again, then show how with the examples.
- Session 3. Practice together, then play the game.
- Session 4. More practice on the worksheet, and the daily habit.
- Session 5. Quick check: narration and a few practice items. Move on when it is mostly right.