Activities to Teach Students About Fact Families
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Fact families are sets of numbers that are related to each other in a certain way. They consist of three numbers that can be used to create two addition and two subtraction equations. Teaching fact families to students is important because it helps them understand the relationship between addition and subtraction, as well as the underlying concepts of arithmetic.
Fortunately, there are plenty of fun and engaging activities that teachers can use to teach fact families to their students. Here are some ideas:
1. Fact Family Houses
This activity involves creating a house-shaped graphic organizer with three windows. In each window, students write a number from the fact family. Then, they write two addition and two subtraction equations that include those three numbers. This activity is fun for students because they get to decorate their houses and see the relationships between the numbers.
2. Beach Ball Fact Families
Students sit in a circle and pass around a beach ball. When the teacher calls out a number, the student holding the ball must say the two numbers that can be added to make that number, as well as the number that can be subtracted from each to make the third number in the fact family. For example, if the number called is 7, the student might say “3 and 4 make 7, and 7-3=4 and 7-4=3.” Students can also challenge themselves by trying to create new fact families themselves.
3. Race to the Top
This game involves racing to see who can complete the most fact families correctly. Students work in pairs, each with their own set of three numbers. They race to fill in as many fact family equations as they can in a set amount of time. The first pair to finish is the winner.
4. Fact Family Puzzles
Printable fact family puzzles can be found online. These puzzles use pictures to represent the numbers, making them a great visual tool for younger students. Students must match the correct set of pictures to complete the fact family equation. This activity can be done individually, in pairs, or as a whole class.
5. Fact Family Bracelets
This hands-on activity involves creating a bracelet with three beads of different colors. Each color represents one of the numbers in the fact family. Then, students add and subtract the numbers to create the different equations. This activity is great for kinesthetic learners and provides a tangible way for students to understand the concept of fact families.
In conclusion, teaching fact families is an important part of elementary school math education. By using fun and engaging activities, teachers can help their students understand and enjoy this concept. Whether through games, crafts, or puzzles, there are many ways to make fact families a memorable and meaningful part of the math curriculum.