Parent guide · Kindergarten Math · Unit 2
Lesson 2.4 One More, One Less
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 15–20 minutes
- Goal
- Find one more and one less. Say the number before and after.
- You need
- Counters (dried beans, buttons or pebbles)
- A ten-frame (printables pack)
- Pencil and crayons
- Worksheet A · Worksheet B · the lesson page
Steps
Do this: Ask these out loud. Your child answers out loud; no paper needed.
- Ask: “What number comes just after 3?” Listen for: 4
- Ask: “What number comes just before 3?” Listen for: 2
- Ask: “What number comes just before 4?” Listen for: 3
- Ask: “What number comes just before 9?” Listen for: 8
- Ask: “What number comes just before 2?” Listen for: 1
Say this: “One more is the next number we say when counting. One less is the number just before.”
Say this: “If 6 hens are in the coop and one more comes in, there are 7.”
Say this: “One more: the next number when counting.”
Say this: “One less: the number just before.”
Show: What number comes just before 6?
Say this: “6 − 1 = 5”
Answer: 5
Show: A blacksmith had 5 nails. He used 1 to shoe the horses. How many nails are left?
Say this: “Unknown: how many are left.”
Say this: “Bar model: the whole is 5; one part is 1; the other part is unknown.”
Say this: “Equation: 5 − 1 = ?”
Say this: “5 − 1 = 4”
Say this: “Answer: 4 nails are left.”
Answer: 4 nails. 4 nails are left.
Do this: Your child does these with you. Let them try first; help only after a real try.
Ask: What number comes just after 1?
Listen for: 2
If stuck: 1 + 1 = 2
Ask: What number comes just after 5?
Listen for: 6
If stuck: 5 + 1 = 6
Ask: What number comes just after 6?
Listen for: 7
If stuck: 6 + 1 = 7
7 more practice items on the lesson page, and on Worksheet A and Worksheet B.
- Going the wrong way. One more always means a bigger number.
Fill a ten-frame with buttons, show it for three seconds, then cover it. Your child says how many. Five-and-some-more patterns become quick.
Say this: “Tell me what you learned today. Show me with your hands or the counters if you like.”
Listen for: Find one more and one less.; Say the number before and after.
Count to 20 aloud. Then hold up fingers for a number and have your child say it without counting.
Spread over the week
5 sessions of 15–20 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.