Teacher's tips

Level of Education: Elementary School

Subject: Mathematics

Theme: Addition and subtraction operations

Age 05 to 06 years old

Students have to deal with simple math operations every day. Many daily situations can help them learn mathematics, such as counting their clothes, how many slices of pizza they have eaten, and how many pennies they have. Kids should have daily experiences with strategies and activities of adding and subtracting. They need stimuli to solve problems outside school.

Learner outcomes

To solve math problems of adding and subtracting;

To develop logical and mathematical thinking;

To stimulate their taste for math using playful and fun activities;

To offer the game as a didactic resource to explore the content discussed in the classroom;

To work and develop attitudes of interaction, collaboration, and sharing of experiences;

To work with their motor skills by using the mouse;

To exercise their logical thinking.

Teachers' goals

To work with motor skills, focusing skills, and logical thinking;

To help the development of different thinking skills, such as observation, analysis and evaluation, and problem-solving.

To work and develop attitudes of interaction, collaboration, and sharing of experiences;

To offer situations that students can analyze, interpret and propose the four basic operations.

Suggestions of approaches for the teacher

Start the class by asking students about the number of things in the classroom, such as:

• How many windows are there?

• How many doors are there?

• How many fans are there?

Then, ask them questions that need subtraction operations, such as:

• How many girls are here today?

• How many boys are here today?

• “Now, how many students are there in the classroom today?” Do this operation with the students. After that, ask another question that needs subtraction:

• “There are 30 students in the class, but there are only 26 present here today.

How many students are missing?"

Do this operation with the students.

Part 2

You can split students into groups and ask them to count some objects in the classroom or around the school. After that, they should add the numbers they found and give you the final result. You can write on the board the quantities of each group and ask them to do the counts in their notebooks.

Go on by doing similar operations. Then, you can complement the activity with some of the suggestions below.

More about the content

(Approach 1) Gather some bottle caps to form an operation box. Stick numbers from 1 to 10 on the lids and, likewise, the operation symbols. After that, ask them to do the operations on paper or the whiteboard.

(Approach 2) You can do the 'operation box' using popsicle sticks.

(Approach 3) Hopscotch: Assemble a Hopscotch on the patio. Every time they hop a new square, they must add the numbers and shout them. On their way back, they start with the total number, and then they should subtract the ones on the squares they hop.

Example: the student hopped on the numbers 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7.

They must add 1+2 (and say '3' out loud). Then, they add the following number.

3 + 4 (shouting '7')

And so it goes.

(Approach 4) Ask students to take toys for the class. Organize a 'store' with the students. Print and give students fake money. Each one should have at least 20 dollars. Then, they should sell their toys and buy the ones their friends are selling. Encourage them to manage their money by adding and subtracting so they don't lose money.

Explain to them that the selling is a play and they will return home with their toys.