Addition and Number Sentences

Oliver was having some trouble focusing on his addition the other day, so we decided to leave the kitchen table and try something a little more hands on. There is nothing very sophisticated about this method of teaching addition, but it really worked with Oliver!
In our Singapore math program we are working on one-one correspondence counting. He is counting up from 1-10 as well as counting down from 10-1. In the program we are focusing a lot on learning the value of numbers alongside of number recognition. This is great because we want our kids to recognize the numbers...but we mostly want them to understand the value of each number.  For example, having them say out loud "three is one more than two or nine is one more than eight." I have also been working with him on "greater than, less than, and equal to," terminology. All of these things combined are helping him understand the process of addition because he is being forced to understand the value behind each number.

Materials Needed: 

• Paper Plates/Paper Bowls
• Markers
• Construction Paper
• Some kind of counting blocks or tools

I took out 10 Styrofoam bowls from the cupboard and wrote a number 1-10 on each of them. Then I took out a piece of construction paper and made two signs (a plus sign and an equals sign).

 Various ways to use the Activity:

1. First I scattered the bowls on the ground and had Oliver line up the bowls in order from 1-10.
2. Next, I scattered the bowls again and had him line up the numbers from 10-1.
3. We discussed our symbols and how they make number sentences. Then I lined up the symbols and placed different combinations of numbers in the number sentence for him to solve. (He made a couple of problems for me to solve too.)

Teaching Tip: While we were working through the different problems Oliver would place counting blocks by each number to help him solve the problem.  While he was placing the blocks by the bowls I had him counting out loud. Once the problem was solved I also had him say the number sentence out loud.  For example, in the picture above he said out loud, "three plus four equals seven." Talking through the problems out loud helped him to remember the different parts of the number sentence and will help him to recognize the symbols as we work with them in the future.


My three year old Ellie wanted to play with us too, so we created some fun games them to play together.

We lined up the numbers in order and took turns closing our eyes while someone took one of the numbers away.  This was great because we were able to problem solve by thinking about which number was between two other numbers.  For example, I took away the bowl with the number four on it and the kids had to think about which number is between three and five.

It is always fun to create simple math activities with the materials you have in the cupboard and watch your kids learn and have fun together!