Growth Point 0
Addition and Subtraction Growth Points activities
The tasks listed on the following pages are rich tasks from various sources that may be used with multi-level groups or students who are working at a particular level.
0. Not apparent
Not yet able to combine and count two collections of objects.
NOTE: If students are at GP0 for Addition and Subtraction, it is also recommended that activities from the Counting growth points be used to build students’ counting skills before starting Addition and Subtraction activities.
Student groups
Materials: None.
Activity: Teacher calls for groups of students to stand up (e.g. all students with jumpers, pigtails, brown hair). Class then counts the number of students in each group. These could be recorded on the board and then comparisons made (e.g. largest or smallest group).
Related key ideas: Combining.
Variation: Use the data to create pictographs of student discoveries.
Smartie maths
Materials: One small box of Smarties for each student.
Activity: This activity is aimed primarily at simply providing lots of opportunities for counting. Each student is given a small box of Smarties. Questioning could begin (e.g. ‘How many smarties do you think will be in your box? More than one? Less than one hundred?’). Ask for reasons for the answers given. Students count numbers of Smarties in a box then separate the Smarties into colour groups. Ask questions (e.g. ‘How many brown Smarties? Stand up if you have 3 brown Smarties in your box.’). Then count the number of students standing. Revisit and include counting total number of particular coloured Smarties in the class, between pairs or small groups.
Related key ideas: Combining.
Variation: Place Smarties on a pictograph.
Playtime
Materials: None.
Activity: Pose the task, ‘I saw 10 snails in my garden, and I knew there were 10 without having to count’. Ask, ‘Can you draw what the 7 snails in the garden might have looked like?’ ‘Can you draw it another way?’ ‘Which way is easier to know?’
Related key ideas: Subitising.