English

Learning Additions with Numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4

Topic

Arithmetic

Ages

4, 5 and 6

Aim

Students will learn how to add two numbers and get some practice doing sums. Familiarise students with the + operator.

Assumed prior knowledge

Students are familiar with the graphical representation of numbers from 1 to 4 (i.e. "1", "2", "3", and "4").

Resources: Working with the Number 3

Materials

"Sums" worksheets, 8 counters for every two students

Method

Introduce your students to sums in your usual way...

OR

Presentation:

Draw a "sums box" like the one below.

Draw 1 circle in the first operand box on the left and tell students it is a counter. "How many counters are there in this box?" Elicit "1". Write "1" above the box.

Draw another dot in the second operand box on the right of the first box. Proceed as above.

Now point to the big box that surrounds the two smaller boxes and ask how many counters are there in this box? Count them with the students: Point to the "counter" in the first operand box: "One... " (draw one counter in the result box on the right).

Point to the counter in the second operand box "... And two"; draw a second counter in the result box on the right.

Point to the first operand box again say "One", point to the +: "plus", point to the second operand box: "one", point to the equal sign: "equals", point to the result box "two", repeat "One plus one equals two". Get students to repeat with you.

Students will probably be mystified at this point. But just proceed as above for all combinations with one and two "counters".

Practice 1:

Pair off students and give out pages with addition boxes (download) and four counters to each pair of students. Write up on the board "1 + 1". Demonstrate to students using your own Sums page and put one counter into the first operand box, one counter in the second operand box and then count them and put as many counters in the result box. Encourage students to copy you.

Do as many as necessary until students get the idea and don't need your modelling.

Practice 2:

Use GCompris for supervised autonomous practice.

1. Choose the Numeration, Arithmetic and Measurements activities (Sheep juggling with numbers)
2. Click on the "Arithmetic" button (middle button, under the sheep picture)

3. Choose "Learn Additions"

Selecting the Level

It may be best to start off easy and work only with additions with 1 and 2 first. To do this,

1. Click on the purple "hamburger" menu button at the bottom of the screen to enter the settings.
2. In the "Dataset" screen, initially all the levels ("Additions with 1 and 2", "Additions with 1, 2 and 3", and "Additions with 1, 2, 3 and 4") are selected with a green tick (✅) next to each.
3. Unselect "Additions with 1, 2 and 3" and "Additions with 1, 2, 3 and 4" by clicking on the green tick to turn it into a cross (❌).

4. Now only "Additions with 1 and 2" is selected. Press the "Save" button at the bottom of the screen to go back to the game.

Playing the Game

The game shows a sum at the top (e.g., 1 + 2) and a row of circles at the bottom. The children have to figure out how many circles (counters) they have to click from the addition at the top (e.g., 3 in this case).

They can use their worksheets with addition squares and counters to help them.