MAFS.K.OA.1.1: Represent addition and subtraction with objects, fingers, mental images, drawings, sounds (e.g., claps), acting out situations, verbal explanations, expressions, or equations.

Cognitive Complexity Level: 1-Recall

[divider] [/divider] Students are able to… 

  • Explain addition and subtraction with objects, fingers, drawings, sounds, acting out situations, or verbal explanations.
  • Recognize vocabulary of addition (joining two sets or adding on to a set) and subtraction (taking items from a set or taking apart a set).
  • Match models with expressions and equations provided by teacher.

[divider] [/divider] Students are able to…because teachers

  • Introduce appropriate addition and subtraction vocabulary. NOTE: Vocabulary should be focused on the actions, not key words! 
    • Addition: add, put together, join, combine, plus 
    • Subtraction: take away, minus, subtract, take apart, separate 
  • Provide opportunities for students to compose and decompose numbers up to 5 using concrete materials. 
  • Ask questions that promote student explanation using both words and pictures

 [divider] [/divider] Questions to ask students:

  • What is the action in the problem? 
    • Sample answer that indicates understanding: putting together, joining, adding to, taking from, separating, etc.
  • How do you know you are putting together, joining, or adding to? 
    • Sample answer that indicates understanding: Students are able to correctly identify the action in the problem. Consider the problem, “There are 2 students at the water fountain. Two more get in line. How many students are in the water fountain?” Student should be able to identify the action is adding to.
  • How do you know you are taking from or separating? 
    • Sample answer that indicates understanding: Students are able to correctly identify the action in the problem. Consider the problem, “Joseph is holding 4 crayons. Miracle takes one. How many crayons does Joseph have now?” Student should be able to identify the action is taking from.

[divider] [/divider] Additional Resources:

Additional in depth content knowledge

Blog Post:  

Joining and separating… using actions to understand addition and subtraction 

Video:  

ORIGO: Exploring add-to addition
ORIGO: Introducing types of subtraction

[divider] [/divider] Sample Formative Assessment Tasks:

[divider] [/divider] Resources/Tasks to Support Your Child at Home:

  • Use small objects around the home (dry beans, Cheerios, etc.) and have your child model simple addition and subtraction problems using the small objects.   

Questions to ask your child: 

  • What is the action in the problem? 
  • How do you know you are putting together, joining, or adding to? 
  • How do you know you are taking from or separating?