Understanding Addition and Subtraction

Overview

Your student will be learning:

• how to subitize, which means to instantly recognize quantities up to ten.

Example: Knowing that a dice is showing 5 without counting the dots.

• that addends can be added in any order and that the sum does not change.

Example: 3 + 4 = 7 is the same as 4 + 3 = 7

• about fact families and how to solve equations with three numbers, one of which is unknown.

Example:

6 + ___ = 14

14 - ___ = 6

14 – 6 = ___

• that there are multiple ways to make the same number.

Example:

5 + 1 = 6

4 + 2 = 6

3 + 3 = 6

Resources

• Videos
  • Teaching Subitizing to Young Learners. This Teaching Subitizing Skills video by Catia Dias explains the importance of subitizing and strategies to practice it.
  • Writing Addition Sentences When the Picture is Provided. Watch this explanation of how to write addition number sentences using dominoes.
  • Missing Addends: Finding a Missing Part for Kids. This missing addends video models how to solve for the missing part in a part-part whole model and in a word problem using addition and subtraction.
  • Singapore Math Addition. This Singapore Math video explains and models the steps used to solve word problems using model drawing.
• Free Apps

• Websites
  • First Grade Math Games. ABCya! has various games for students to practice their addition and subtraction skills.
  • First Grade Addition. This website provides games and opportunities to practice addition skills.
  • Subtraction Games for First Grade. Games and opportunities to practice subtraction skills are given on this website.
  • Subtraction Word Problems Game. This website provides an opportunity to practice solving subtraction word problems.
  • First Grade Addition Games. This Education.com website provides games and opportunities to practice addition skills.
  • First Grade Subtraction Games. This Education.com website provides games and opportunities to practice subtraction skills.
• Books
  • Domino Addition by Lynette Long. In this story, simple addition will be used to find the total number of dots.
  • The Action of Subtraction by Brian P. Cleary. This rhyming story tells about subtraction. Online read aloud.
  • Quack and Count by Keith Baker. This story shows different ways to represent addition situations and explores the concept of equality. Online read aloud.