Goal 2 Add/Subtract

Goal 2 – With Small 5s












5+1, 5+2, 5+3, 5+4, 5+5




6-1, 6-5, 7-2, 7-5, 8-3, 8-5, 9-4, 9-5, 10-5






Concrete Routines




1)    Show Me – have students, on two hands, show 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (be sure students show 6 as 5 and 1, 7 as 5 and 2, 8 as 5 and 3, 9 as 5 and 4).  Do this routine for 1 or 2 minutes per day until they are able to do this automatically.







2)   Abacus Show Me – have some students show 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 on the abacus while others show on two hands. 












3)   Two Hand Choral - Have students use two hands to model addition problems first (5+1 makes, 5+2 makes, …).  As students become fluent with the addition facts, have students use two hands to model subtraction problems (6-1 makes, 7-5 makes, …).






4)   Human Ten Frames – Use chalk, tape, or paint to create a large ten frame in your room or outside.  Ask students to model “with 5s” problems, both addition and subtraction, by standing in the squares of the ten frame.





5)   Abacus Choral – have student(s) model addition problems first, and then addition and subtraction problems interchangeably.












6)   Snap Cube Student Leaders – have one or more students use snap cubes (unifix, multilink, …) to model “with 5s” addition and subtraction problems and lead students in choral responses such as “5+4 makes” and “9-5 makes”.









Representational Routines







7)   Two Hands Cards Choral – show students the “With 5s” two-hand cards and use choral response, such as “5+3 makes” and “8-5 makes”. (see FactsWise Part-Whole Resources).









8)   Ten Frame Choral – show students With 5s ten-frame cards and use choral response, such as “5+3 makes” and “8-3 makes”.  You can find ten-frame cards at  http://www.wsd1.org/pc_math/Dot%20Card%20and%20Ten%20Frame%20Package2005.pdf.









8)  Part-Whole Grid Choral – show students a part-whole grid for “With 5s” and have students state both the addition and subtraction relationships while you write them on the board.





5+3=8    3+5=8    8-5=3    8-3=5

8=5+3    8=3+5    3=8-5    5=8-3




Abstract Routines




9)   Snap Facts – Say a fact such as “5+3 makes” and then use a hand signal for wait.  Give students 2 or 3 seconds to process, and then snap your fingers, at which time students will choral respond with the answer.  Watch carefully for facts where some students are delaying their answers, and repeat those several times before you end the activity.  Remember to spend more time on subtraction facts than you do on addition facts!