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Clarifications
Clarification 1: Instruction includes objects, fingers, drawings, number lines and equations.Clarification 2: Instruction focuses on the connection that addition is “putting together” or “counting on” and that subtraction is “taking apart” or “taking from.” Refer to Situations Involving Operations with Numbers (Appendix A).
Clarification 3: Within this benchmark, it is the expectation that one problem can be represented in multiple ways and understanding how the different representations are related to each other.
Benchmark Instructional Guide
Connecting Benchmarks/Horizontal Alignment
- MA.K.NSO.1.1
- MA.K.NSO.1.2
- MA.K.NSO.2.1
- MA.K.NSO.2.2
- MA.K.NSO.2.3
- MA.K.AR.1.1
- MA.K.AR.1.2
- MA.K.AR.1.3
- MA.K.AR.2.1
Terms from the K-12 Glossary
- Equation
- Expression
- Number Line
Vertical Alignment
Previous Benchmarks
Next Benchmarks
Purpose and Instructional Strategies
The purpose of this benchmark is to begin building strategies for addition and subtraction using skills developed through previous benchmarks; such as counting forwards and backwards, counting objects and using number lines. Procedural reliability with these same addition and subtraction facts is expected in MA.K.NSO.3.2, and automaticity is to be achieved in grade 1 (MA.1.NSO.2.1).- Instruction encourages students to use and explore various strategies as they begin to discover which strategies are best for them and best for given situations (MTR.5.1, MTR.2.1).
- Strategies include the use of manipulatives; the use of fingers, counting both sets separately and combining or removing, counting on and counting back, and using the relationship between addition and subtraction.
- Instruction includes the use of manipulatives and pictorial representations.
- Instruction includes multiple representations of expressions and equations (MTR.2.1).
- For example, 3 + 7 = ___ and___ = 3 + 7.
- Instruction includes examples of all four situations for addition and subtraction as described in Appendix A.
- Instruction includes the use of context to provide a purpose for adding or subtracting, and to develop conceptual understanding for addition and subtraction (MTR.7.1).
Common Misconceptions or Errors
- Students may confuse addition situations with subtraction situations based on “cue” or “key” words.
- For example, in the word problem “Steve has 7 crayons. Steve has 3 more crayons than Joane. How many crayons does Joane have?” the word “more” may make students think to add, though the context is actually subtraction.
- Students may think there is only one correct way of solving a problem. Many problems can be solved by using addition or subtraction.
- After mastering one addition or subtraction situation students may feel that there are no others to learn.
Strategies to Support Tiered Instruction
- Instruction includes opportunities to use various manipulatives to model addition and subtraction situations and record the equations being modeled. Instruction can include physically breaking apart a whole to model subtraction equations.
- For example, teachers include an emphasis on discovering the commutative property, or that numbers can be added in any order and that the sum will remain the same.
- Instruction includes removing the equation symbols to both isolate and focus on the concept that two parts combine to make a whole. To support language development of equation representations, describe the concepts of adding to and taking away as “3 and 4 make 7” or, “7 take away 4 is 3.”
- Teacher provides opportunities for subitizing tasks in which cards with dot patterns can be used to visualize the pattern and describe the way it is seen. Teacher records the combinations of numbers that students use to help make their thinking visual.
- For example, subitize cards can include dots with two different colors to enhance distinction between quantities within a total.
- For example, students may use counters to match the dot patterns on the cards and record an equation that matches.
Instructional Tasks
Instructional Task 1 (MTR.4.1)
In a small group, provide students with various tools for adding and subtracting (i.e., number lines, counters, bears, paperclips, paper and crayons). Present an expression, both verbally and in written form, and instruct students to find the sum or difference using any tool or strategy they feel comfortable with. Once everyone is comfortable with their solutions, allow students the opportunities to share their solutions and methods. Use the sharing as an opportunity to discuss various methods and strategies, being sure to validate each. Efficiency is not the goal here, so any accurate strategy is valid, especially when it deepens understanding.
Instructional Items
Instructional Item 1
To count the flowers shown to the right, James recognized that there are 4 orange flowers and 2 pink. He started at 4, then he counted on, “5, 6,” to find that there are 6 total flowers.- How could you use James’s strategy to find 6 + 3?
- How many orange flowers are there?
- How many pink flowers are there?
- How many flowers are there in all?
Instructional Item 2
Ashley and Larry are coloring a picture. Ashley has 10 crayons and shares 4 crayons with Larry. How many crayons does Ashley have left?If Larry started with 1 crayon, how many does he have now?
How many more crayons does Ashley have than Larry?
*The strategies, tasks and items included in the B1G-M are examples and should not be considered comprehensive.
Related Courses
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Formative Assessment
Lesson Plans
Perspectives Video: Expert
Perspectives Video: Teaching Ideas
Tutorials
MFAS Formative Assessments
Student Resources
Tutorials
Using a ten-frame as a model, you will learn how to use equations to join two addends, one addend unknown, to make 10.
Type: Tutorial
Using a five-frame as a model, you will learn how to use equations to join two addends, to make 5.
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In this tutorial, you will learn to find the unknown change in an equation with a sum of 10: 3 + ? = 10.
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In this tutorial, you will learn to use symbols to record an unknown whole number in a subtraction equation relating to three whole numbers.
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In this tutorial, you will learn to use symbols to record an unknown whole number in an addition equation relating to three whole numbers.
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Parent Resources
Tutorials
Using a ten-frame as a model, you will learn how to use equations to join two addends, one addend unknown, to make 10.
Type: Tutorial
In this tutorial, you will learn to find the unknown change in an equation with a sum of 10: 3 + ? = 10.
Type: Tutorial
In this tutorial, you will learn to use symbols to record an unknown whole number in a subtraction equation relating to three whole numbers.
Type: Tutorial
In this tutorial, you will learn to use symbols to record an unknown whole number in an addition equation relating to three whole numbers.
Type: Tutorial
