Hello Teachers!
As teachers, we know computation is an integral component of mathematics and it's our job to teach it well. A variety of contexts are necessary for children to develop an understanding of addition and subtraction. Below you will find resources for developing proficiency with basic addition/subtraction facts and operations. The materials provided on this site are intended for second grade instruction, however they can be modified for a different grade level if necessary.
Literature
Integrating literature into any subject is an effective method for introducing and reinforcing a math concept. Here are just a few of the countless books available to use when teaching addition and subtraction. Happy Browsing!
Mission: Addition written and illustrated by Loreen Leedy. To learn the concept of addition Leedy uses examples from our world. Miss Prime, the classroom teacher, presents her animal students with the core facts of addition by having them play detective and invent word problems. Leedy’s explanations are clear and concise, and her colorful pictures feature a multitude of amusing animals.
Sea Sums written by Joy Hulme and illustrated by Carol Schwartz. Simple math concepts are presented through the animals and plants of a coral reef. The problems are presented in four-line rhymes, and then the numbers, words, and math symbols that make up the equation are also written out. Each bordered page contains colorful, large pictures of the creatures. *cross-curricular: science-living systems
Bunny Money written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells. Max and Ruby take the bus downtown to buy a birthday gift for their grandma, but they spend so much money on emergencies that they don’t have enough for bus fare home. This picture book demonstrates addition and subtraction problems using money as the bunny characters shop for a gift. *cross-curricular: history and social science- economics
Lemonade for Sale written by Stuart J Murphy and illustrated by Tricia Tusa. The Elm Street Kids’ Club decides to sell lemonade to earn money to fix up their clubhouse and they use a graph to keep track of their sales.
The Hershey's Kisses Subtraction Book written by Jerry Pallotta and illustrated by Rob Bolster. Pallotta uses Hershey kisses as a way to teach students the basics of subtraction.
Websites
Children enjoy using the computer, so why not take advantage of this interest and allow them to play and practice math skills while on the computer. Below you will find interactive and engaging websites focused on computation skills for addition and subtraction. Go ahead, try a few and have fun!
AplusMath- Addition Concentration – Students can test their memory and practice addition skills at the same time. Students are presented with two gameboards, one which contains the addition equations, and the other which contains the sums. This game requires concentration !
FunBrain- Line Jumper – Students recall basic addition and subtraction facts in Line Jumper. FunBrain shows a number line and a math question. Students have to click on the number line at the correct answer for the question. This particular activity is for numbers less than 20, however there is a level of difficulty option that ranges from easy to super brain.
Harcourt Math Advantage-High Rise Math – Harcourt offers a variety of math activities that correlate to their textbook. Rise Math is an addition and subtraction game that is played between partners with a twist. Partners compete to the top floor of the building by answering math questions, however students move throughout the building according to the type of math problem they're given.
Harcourt Math Advantage-Addition Surprise! – It's a multi-skill activity! Not only do students get to practice basic addition facts, but they also gain experience with an addition table and number patterns. Students drag a number tile to a square where the column and row add up to the sum on the number tile. Each time the number tile is placed on the correct square a portion of the puzzle is revealed.
Quia- I Can Do Word Problems– Quia is a website that offers a variety of core subject activities created by teachers. The activities consist of quizzes, concentration, matching, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and more. I Can Do Word Problems is a short exercise that requires students to solve word problems with emphasis on operation key words.
Additional Resources
Don't forget to check out these resources as well. Continue to explore, adapt and create new ideas that best fit the needs of your students.
Quia Addition-Level 3 – Students continue practicing their addition skills by adding two digit numbers with sums up to 99. Students have the option to play this game as a matching, concentration, or flashcard activity.
Quia Related Facts – Yet another Quia activity! This activity provides practice with recognizing inverse relationships with addition and subtraction.
The Add and Subtract Body Part Dance – This is sure to get your students moving while adding/subtracting. Jack Hartman uses music to promote learning by teaching the concepts of adding and subtracting through songs. Get ready to dance!
Add it On Song – Here is a slight alternative to counting on fingers. Jennifer Fixman helps students learn to add by shaking their fist and singing a song. The pictures are a great tool as well.