Growth Point 1

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.

1. Count all (two collections)

Counts all to find the total of two collections.

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.

Potato stamping

Materials: Potato stamp (or similar), paint.

Activity: Using the potato stamp, a student makes from one to five stamps on a sheet of paper then folds the paper in half to transfer the image(s) onto the other half. Count the total number of stamps now across the page. Students record the numbers that match the quantities they have created. Ask students if they can also record the total of the two collections.

Related key ideas: Combining.

Matchbox counting

Materials: Empty matchboxes (or similar), counters. Fill empty matchboxes with between 1 and 10 counters. Write the number of counters on the bottom of the box.

Activity: Working as pairs, each student chooses a matchbox and empties the counters onto the table. Combining the contents of two boxes, the students count the total number of counters. After checking their answer, they then redivide the counters back into the matchboxes by counting out. For example, Matchbox 8 and Matchbox 5 are selected so count a total of 13 counters together. Then separate the counters again into 8 and 5 in each box. Students record the number sentence using numerals and drawings.

Related key ideas: Combining, part-part-whole.

Add them up

Materials: Pack of playing cards with picture cards removed (Ace = 1), counters.

Activity: Students work in pairs and each student is given ten counters. To begin a round, each student places one counter in front of them. Both students are then dealt two cards. They count the total of these two cards and the student with the highest total collects both counters. If students had the same total, each student places another counter out, and two more cards are dealt to each student. The highest total takes all four counters. The winner is the student who collects all of their partners’ counters.

Related key ideas: Combining.

Variation: Have a separate set of counters and 2 blank 10-frames ready for students to model and count the quantities represented on the cards.

Dice bingo

Materials: Activity sheet (optional), two dice.

Activity: Each student selects four numbers between 2 and 12, and records them on the activity sheet (or on another piece of paper). The two dice are then rolled and the total counted. If students have this total on their sheet, they cross it off. Play continues until bingo is reached.

Related key ideas: Combining.

Dot plate match up

Materials: Dot plates: make one set of coloured dot plates with the numbers 11 to 20. Make a white set of dot plates with the numbers 3, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 8, 9, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 15. Make different dot patterns for numbers which are repeated.

Activity: Give each student a dot plate. The students with the ‘total’ or coloured dot plates must find two other students who combine to give their total (e.g. coloured dot plate 14 may find 9 and 5). Towards the end, if the dot plates that are left may not combine to make the remaining totals, this allows for discussion about other possible combinations. It may also require some rearrangement of groups already formed.

Related key ideas: Combining, partitioning, part-part-whole, commutativity.

Jack's golden beans

Materials: Dot plates, golden lima beans (spray lima beans gold on one side, or use two-sided counters).

Activity: Students grab a hand full of beans and drop them onto the desktop. Ask, ‘How many golden beans? How many white? How many altogether?’.

Students record their findings using pictures, numbers and words.

Related key ideas: Combining, partitioning, part-part-whole, commutativity.

Tell me a story

Materials: Story setting cards, teddy counters.

Activity: Choose one of the story setting cards. Students take two handfuls of different coloured teddies (e.g. three red and two yellow). Students place the two groups of teddies on the card and make-up an addition story that matches. Students record their number story using pictures, words and numbers.

Related key ideas: Combining.

Count around the room

Materials: Everyday classroom equipment.

Activity: This activity is primarily aimed at simply providing lots of opportunities for counting. Find objects/equipment around the classroom and school which can be used for counting (e.g. windows, steps, cars in the carpark, trees). Practice counting these as a group, and begin to introduce the idea of ‘easier’ ways to count (e.g. counting by 2s).

Related key ideas: Quantity, cardinality principle, order-irrelevance principle, conservation of number.

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