Parent guide · Kindergarten Math · Unit 4

Lesson 4.3 Addition Stories

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: Act out and solve addition stories. Tell an addition story.
You need: Counters (dried beans, buttons or pebbles)
Pencil and crayons
Print: Worksheet A · Worksheet B · the lesson page

Steps

Warm-up
Do this: Ask these out loud. Your child answers out loud; no paper needed.
- Ask: “1 + 0” Listen for: 1
- Ask: “1 + 2” Listen for: 3
- Ask: “1 + 1” Listen for: 2
- Ask: “1 + 5” Listen for: 6
- Ask: “2 + 3” Listen for: 5
Teach the new idea
Say this: “Story problems tell a little story with numbers. Act it out with beans, then write the number sentence.”
Say this: “Words like ‘in all,’ ‘altogether’ and ‘more come’ often mean add.”
Say this: “Story problem: a short story that asks a math question.”
Show how
Show: There are 1 ducks on the pond and 4 more fly in. How many ducks are on the pond now?
$bar model$
Say this: “Unknown: the total.”
Say this: “Bar model: two parts, 1 and 4; the whole is unknown.”
Say this: “Equation: 1 + 4 = ?”
Say this: “1 + 4 = 5”
Say this: “Answer: There are 5 ducks now.”
Answer: 5 ducks. There are 5 ducks now.
Show: 4 + 1 = ___
Say this: “Start at 4 and count on 1: 5.”
Say this: “4 + 1 = 5”
Answer: 5
Practice together
Do this: Your child does these with you. Let them try first; help only after a real try.
Ask: There are 2 ducks on the pond and 3 more fly in. How many ducks are on the pond now?
$bar model$
Listen for: 5 ducks. There are 5 ducks now.
If stuck: Unknown: the total.
Ask: The baker made 4 rolls and 3 loaves. How many pieces of bread did she make?
$bar model$
Listen for: 7 pieces. She made 7 pieces of bread.
If stuck: Unknown: the total.
Ask: The baker made 4 rolls and 2 loaves. How many pieces of bread did she make?
$bar model$
Listen for: 6 pieces. She made 6 pieces of bread.
If stuck: Unknown: the total.
7 more practice items on the lesson page, and on Worksheet A and Worksheet B.
Watch for
- Adding every number you see. Listen to the story and act it out first.
Game: Ten Pairs
Use cards 0–10. Lay four face up. Your child finds two that make 10 and keeps them. Refill and continue.
Narration
Say this: “Tell me what you learned today. Show me with your hands or the counters if you like.”
Listen for: Act out and solve addition stories.; Tell an addition story.
Daily habit
Practice the “make ten” pairs every day: 1 and 9, 2 and 8, 3 and 7, 4 and 6, 5 and 5.

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.