Activities to Teach Students Ways to Make a Number With Addition – Sums to 10
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Addition is one of the basic math operations that every young learner must master. It is the first step towards becoming proficient in more advanced areas, such as algebra and calculus. One of the most fundamental concepts of addition is learning to make a number by combining smaller numbers. In this article, we will discuss various activities that teachers can use to help students learn ways to make a number using addition, specifically sums to 10.
Activity 1: Counting on Fingers
Finger counting is an excellent way to introduce addition to young learners. Teachers can demonstrate that adding a thumb to another finger will make a sum of two. In the same way, adding two fingers together will make a sum of three, and so on. Students who have not yet learned how to count on from a given number can use fingers as a visual aid to help them count up to 10. This activity is also useful for teaching the commutative property of addition, as students can see that 4 + 2 is the same as 2 + 4.
Activity 2: Number Bond Puzzles
Number bonds are a powerful visual tool for developing students’ understanding of place value and the relationship between numbers. In this activity, teachers can give students a set of number bond puzzles that require them to make a certain number with two addends. For example, if the target number is 4, students can use a puzzle piece that shows the number 2, and another puzzle piece that shows the number 2, to make the target number. This activity reinforces decomposition and composition of a number, and prepares students for learning math facts – adding numbers that make 10.
Activity 3: Addition Rainbow
Students can make an addition rainbow using construction paper or other art materials. To make a rainbow that shows all addends that make 10, teachers can write the numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 on each section of the rainbow. Then, students can find pairs of numbers that make 10 and color these in the same color to form a pattern. For example, 1 and 9 would be colored yellow, 2 and 8 pink, 3 and 7 blue, and so on.
Activity 4: Addition Word Problems
Word problems are an excellent way to help students develop problem-solving skills and apply what they have learned about addition in real world situations. Teachers can provide students with addition word problems that require them to make a number using two addends that sum up to 10. For example, “If you have 7 apples, how many more do you need to have 10?” This activity can be extended to include multi-step problems, increasing the degree of difficulty.
Conclusion
Teaching students ways to make a number with addition is a critical first step in developing their proficiency in math. The activities discussed in this article are just a few examples of how teachers can help students understand the relationships between numbers and acquire problem-solving skills. With these tools, students can develop the necessary foundation to become confident learners in math and beyond.