Finding Unknown Partners (Story Problems)

Monday:

 

Today you will find unknown partners. You will also create and solve story problems with unknown partners. Repeat after me, I can find unknown partners. I can create and solve... story problems with unknown partners. Let's do some quick practice!

I have 9  marbles. 7 of them are green. The rest are red. How many marbles are red? This story problem can be solved a couple different ways. One way we could solve it is with a circle drawing. What is another way? A math mountain. We could also solve the problem by writing an equation.

Let's solve the equation using a math mountain. Which number is the total? 9 Which numbers are the partners? 7 and 2. We drew our math mountain. Now I want to challenge you. We need to write an equation that represents our story. An equation is a mathematical sentence that uses an equals sign to show that two expressions are equal. Take a few seconds to write an equation on your board. Student, can you write your equation on the board?

We are going to write and solve our own story problems as a class. Student, what should our problem be about? Marbles, lollipops or books? How many do we have, student? Pick another number, student. Name a color, student. Name another color, student. How many are _____? Solve this story problem on your board. Draw a math mountain and write an equation.

It is time to play a game! The game we are going to play in math today is called Number Grabber. One student is going to be the Number Grabber. Their job is to come to the board and cover up one of the partner numbers on any mountain while the rest of the class closes their eyes. When the Number Grabber says, "Open your eyes for a big surprise," everyone will open their eyes, look at the mountain with an unknown partner and solve for it. You will write your answer on your white board. Questions?

Tuesday:

Today you will count on to solve subtraction problems. You will solve subtraction story problems. Repeat after me, "I can count on to solve subtraction problems. I can solve subtraction story problems." Let's do some quick practice!

Today I am going to add two signals to our lesson. When I clap that means pick up your whiteboards and markers. When I snap that means put your white boards and markers down.

Watch as I guide you through this subtraction story problem. I had 8 peanuts. Then I ate 5 of them. How many peanuts are left? Let's count on from 5. 5: 6,7,8 How many peanuts are left? 3 peanuts. Why is 3 the answer? 3 is the number of fingers raised. Very good!

Boys and girls you are doing a fantastic job paying attention and waiting to use your white board and marker. Listen to the problem again. Is this problem a plus story or a minus story? How do you know? If we were to create a math mountain. We would have our king  on top. Our King is the biggest number in the problem so which number is bigger 8 or 5. So 8 is the king of our kingdom. Our partners are on the bottom. This is our prince and princess. If 8 is our king what number is the prince? 5. 8 minus 5. The King has 8 peanuts and he wants to give some to the prince and the princess. This one gets five. How many does this one get? Let's write the equation. 8-5=___

*Clap* Now it is your turn to do a subtraction story problem. The King has 9 peanuts and he wants to give some to the prince and the princess. This one gets 4. How many does this one get? Let's write the equation. 9-4=___

The King has 10 peanuts and he wants to give some to the prince and the princess. This one gets 6. How many does this one get? Let's write the equation. 10-6=___

The King has 5 peanuts and he wants to give some to the prince and the princess. This one gets 3. How many does this one get? Let's write the equation. 5-3=___

The King has 4 peanuts and he wants to give some to the prince and the princess. This one gets 1. How many does this one get? Let's write the equation. 4-1=___

The King has 6 peanuts and he wants to give some to the prince and the princess. This one gets 3. How many does this one get? Let's write the equation. 6-3=___

*Snap* We are going to solve addition equations. Some of these equations are vertical so up and down and others are horizontal or left to right. We are going to count on to solve these equations. Remember the answer is the number of fingers raised, not the last number spoken.

1st graders you are showing great self control! Please leave your markers and whiteboards on the floor as we talk through the next two problems together. If we were to create a math mountain. We would have our king on top. Our King is the biggest number in the problem so which number is bigger 6 or 4. So 6 is the king of our kingdom. Our partners or the prince and princess are on the bottom. If 6 is our king what number is the prince? 4. 6 minus 4. Let's count on to find our answer. Does the answer 2 children make sense? Why? Why wouldn't the answer 10 children make sense? In the beginning, only 6 children were swimming. Some went home, so the number of children left must be less than 6. 10 children is more than 6 children.

When I say go you will stand up, walk back to your desk and take out your math workbook. You will turn to page 97. We will work through these together so please do not start. Questions? Go. There is a small picture in the column to help you understand the story problems. The people who made our workbooks are a little tricky though. Sometimes the picture will be our label of our answer and sometimes it won't be so we need to pay special attention to what the story problem is about. 

Wednesday:

Today you will solve subtraction story problems using numeric methods. You will solve subtraction story problems involving nickels and pennies. Repeat after me, “I can solve subtraction story problems. I can solve subtraction story problems using nickels and pennies.” Lets do some quick practice!

Watch as I guide you through this subtraction story problem. I had 9 buttons on my coat. 4 of the buttons fell off. How many buttons are left? Let’s count on from 4. 4: 5, 6,7, 8, 9 How many buttons are left? 5 buttons. Why is 5 the answer? 5 is the number of fingers raised. Very good! How else could we solve this story problem? If we were to create a math mountain we would have our king on top. Our king is the biggest number in the problem so which number is bigger 9 or 4. 9 is the king of our kingdom. Our partners are on the bottom. This is our prince and princess. If 9 is our king what number is the prince? 4. 9 minus 4. The king has 9 buttons and he wants to give some to the prince and the princess. This one gets 4. How many does this one get? Let’s write the equation. 9-4=__

1st graders you are showing great self control with your white boards. I have SOAR tickets for students name. Now it is your turn to do a subtraction story problem so please pick up your white board and marker. There were 7 robins on a fence. Then 5 of them flew away. How many are still on the fence? Go ahead and solve the story problem by drawing a math mountain. Now, write an equation.      ---------REPEAT----------

Please put your white board and marker on the floor in front of you. The next two problems are subtraction stories using coins. These are kind of like a problem within a problem so listen carefully as I read. Lisa has 1 nickel and 4 pennies. She buys a marble for 3 cents. How many cents does she have now? To solve the problem we must first add the nickel and penny to get the total value. 1 nickel how many cents is that? 5 cents. She also has 4 pennies so 5+4= 9. Lisa has 9 cents but she buys a marble for 3 cents. Are we adding or subtracting? Subtracting so 9-3=__. How many cents does she have now? Let’s count on to see. We start at 3 and count up to 9. Our answer will be the amount of fingers we are holding up.

When I say go you will stand up, walk back to your desk and take out your math workbook. You will turn to page 99. We will work through these together so please do not start. Questions? Go.

Thursday:

Today you will use the Pancake Breakfast scenario to practice subtraction. You will solve subtraction equations in The Number Quilt Game. Repeat after me, “I can solve subtraction equations.” Let’s do some quick practice!

Please leave your white boards and markers on the ground as we do the first scenario together. Student’s name you are showing great self-control, I have SOAR tickets for you. Alright, hands in your lap and eyes and ears on me. I made 10 pancakes. Now we have 10 pancakes on the table. I’m going to eat some pancakes. I am eating 1 pancake, 2 pancakes, 3 pancakes, 4 pancakes. I ate 4 pancakes. We knew the total number of pancakes when we started. What was it? 10. Then I ate 4 of them. Let’s write the subtraction equation. How can you count on to find out how many pancakes are left in the stack? Count on from 4. Raise one finger for each number until you reach 7. How can you check to see if the answer is correct? You can count the pancakes that are left on the table. ------REPEAT------

We are going to go back to our desk for a few minutes. I want you to leave your whiteboard and markers here because we will come back to the carpet. We are going to work through this together so once you get a piece of paper please walk to your desk and write your name.

Watch as I guide you through this subtraction story problem. We saw 10 kangaroos. Then 4 of them jumped away. How many kangaroos are left?  We are going to draw a math mountain to represent the kangaroo story. Which number in the problem is the total? 10. Which are the partners? 4 and 6. Let’s write an equation that shows the story. 10-4=6 Where is the total now? At the beginning. Where are the partners? After the subtraction sign and after the equals sign.

We learned how to solve subtraction stories using a nickel and pennies yesterday but let’s do a few problems to refresh our memory. Carla had 1 nickel and 3 pennies. Then she lost 1 of the pennies. How many cents does she have now? This is what we call a problem within a problem. ---SOLVE AND REPEAT---

We are going to play the Number Quilt Game. I heard you have played this before but let me refresh your memory. The goal is to place each card in its correct space on the number quilt. This is a partner game and to play you will read the equation, find the total and place the card on the quilt to match the total. You will need to make sure the corners match because one side is the equation and the other has the answer. You do not want to see the answer because that will not help you become a better mathematician. 

Friday:

Today you will solve for unknown partners or totals in story problems. You will write equations and draw math mountains. Repeat after me, “I can solve for unknown partners or totals in story problems.” Let’s do some quick practice!

These next story problems may be addition or the may be subtraction. We need to read the problems carefully to see if we need to find a partner or a total. There are 7 swimmers in the pool. More swimmers come to the pool. Now there are 10 swimmers. How many more swimmers came? 3 more swimmers. ---REPEAT---

Where is the total in your drawings (Math Mountain, equation)?

Where is the partner?

When I say go you will put your math boards away. I will pass out a pink sheet of paper. Once you get it, write your name. Do not start because we will work through it together. 

Monday:

We have been working with subtraction story problems but today you will solve addition stories with unknown totals. You will solve addition story problems involving nickels and pennies. Repeat after me, “I can solve addition equations.” Let’s do some quick practice!

Please leave your white boards and markers on the ground as I guide you through this addition story problem. I took 4 rides on the roller coaster. My sister took 5. How many roller coaster rides did we take in all? In addition story problems we know the partners and we need to find the total. Our partners are 4 and 5 so they go on the bottom of our math mountain. Our total goes on top. We need to add 4 and 5 together. Let’s count on to find our total. 9. Let’s write an addition equation to go with our math mountain.

Please put your white board and marker on the floor in front of you. The next problem is an addition story using coins. It’s kind of like a problem within a problem so listen carefully as I read. Eric had 1 nickel and 1 penny. His mother gave him 4 more pennies. How many cents does he have now? ---MATH MOUNTAIN AND EQUATION---

Please leave your white board makers on the ground as we do the first scenario together. I am making 1, 2, 3, 4 pancakes. Student, how many are you making? Student is making 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 pancakes. Let’s write an addition equation. Count the stacks with me. 4+6= 10 Let’s count on to find the total. Remember we start with the bigger number and count on.

It’s time to play a game! The game we are going to play is called, Number Grabber. We played this once before but listen because the directions are a little bit different. You will close your eyes while the Number Grabber covers up one of the totals. When the Number Grabber says, “Open your eyes for a big surprise” you will write the total on your white board. You will keep this secret until I ask you to show me. 

 

Pinecone Turkey

My 1st graders made these ADORABLE Pinecone Turkey's for Thanksgiving!

Materials:

- Giant pine cones from the south
- Pipe cleaners
- Glue
- Pom- poms
- Felt
- Googly eyes

Seperation Anxiety at the Y

I follow many education pages on Facebook. One of my favorites is called Toddler Approved. Occasinally, they post reader questions. The question posted last night was:

My one year old is beginning to have bad separation anxiety. He is not in daycare and spends most time with just family (me, daddy, g-am, g-pa...) but we started taking him to 2 hour drop in daycare at our ymca and he doesn't make it more than 20 minutes before they have to come get us because he is so upset and won't calm down. 'They' say kids usually get used to it and are eventually ok, but it's been a few weeks, it doesn't seem to be getting better and we aren't sure what to do... Suggestions!?

Years ago I worked at KidStuff so I decided to comment. I said:

I used to work at the YMCA in KidStuff and it always got better. Sometimes it took kids months other times it only took days and for some it took weeks. Try to be consistent with your drop off time so he gets familiar with the staff in the room. My advice would be to try and build up to the full two hours. Start by dropping him off for 20 minutes and then over the course of a couple weeks or even a month or two build up to leaving him for the full two hours. I would also say maybe play with him in the room once you come back. We had a toddler who really disliked KidStuff but between short workouts and playtime with mom and the staff within a couple of months he was good to go and enjoyed coming to the Y. I would also suggest if possible to go in the morning or go when there are no classes going on that way your child has more one on one time. Good luck! It will get better! 

I have commented on reader questions multiple times and more than once my suggestions have gotten the most likes on the page. I think that's pretty cool considering I do not have any kids of my own just years of experience. :-) 

Happy Halloween!

This dog doesn't stay still for more than five seconds at a time but Happy Halloween from our family to yours!

Happy Birthday, Maci!

Our puppy, Maci turned one in September. We went to a dog bakery and bought her a special cupcake. Maci could not wait to get her paws on it but once she did she took her cupcake and ran with it under the deck. About five minutes later she came out licking her chops. Must've been good! 

Unamused by Maci's running off.

National Cat Day

In honor of National Cat Day you'll find three of my favorite pictures of my cat, Mister Biebs. He has an Instagram (@Mister_Biebs)  and I think you should follow him too!

A Little Bit of Balance and Motion

10/1

Our learning target is: I can balance a spinner.

Now that you are experts on balance and stability it is time to move on to the subject of motion. Today we will build something that moves. We are going to build spinners and use them to observe motion.

Each of you will get a shaft, two small disks, and two large disks. Your job is to find out how to put the materials together to make a balanced spinner. I want you to notice that the disks have little circular marks on one side. The shafts will be easier to push through the disks if you use this side.

You will work at your desk as you build your spinner. (Demonstrate) Are there any questions? (Dismiss)

(Call students back to carpet) Raise your hand if you made a spinner. What did you use to make your spinner? How did you get your spinner to start moving? How does a spinner move when it is working? What kind of motion does a spinner make when it is going? When something turns in circles or goes around and around and around a lot of times, we say it is spinning or rotating. The spinners you made rotate on an axis, which in this case is the shaft.

We need to write in our Balance and Motion journal. (Write as a group. Send students back to their desk to copy it in their journal.) 

10/2

Yesterday, we had the chance to create our own spinners. Today each of you is going to get a Spinning Design sheet. That is a sheet with three designs on it. First, you will cut them out. Next, you will try the first two and then you will design your own blank one using a pencil or crayons. Are there any questions? Your materials are already at your desk. When I tap you you may go back to your desk and get started.

It is time to put your materials away. Listen carefully to how we are going to do this. We are going to create one line and two students will put their materials away at a time. Once your materials are put away you will come to the carpet and sit down in your carpet spot.

Let’s talk about what we have learned over of the past two days.

-       What kind of motion does a spinner make when it is going? When something turns in circles or goes around and around and around a lot of times, we say it is spinning or rotating. The spinners you made rotate on an axis, which in this case is the shaft.

-       Is a spinner more stable when it’s going fast or when it slows down? Faster is more stable; when it slows down, it falls over so that is not stable or balanced. 

 

10/3

We spent the past two days experimenting with spinners. Spinners spin or rotate when they are in motion but they are not the only things that spin. Zoomers also spin when they are in motion. Today each of you is going to get a Zoomer. Your Zoomer is made with a string that runs through two holes in the large disk.

You will work the Zoomer as follows (Demonstrate):

1.     Stick your thumbs through the loops formed by the ends of the string

2.     Whirl the large disk around between your hands 15 or 20 times to twist the string

3.     Pull the string the string tight to start the disk spinning. Release.

Come to carpet and hand me their zoomer.

Ask:

-       How are spinners and zoomers the same?

-       How do you start the motion of zoomers?

-       How can you change the spinning motion of a zoomer?

10/7

We spent last week experimenting with spinners and zoomers. Raise your hand if you can tell me the kind of motion the spinners and zoomers made. Yes, they spin or rotate. How can you tell when something is spinning or rotating? That’s right, it goes around and around on an axis.

Today you are going to work with a partner to create cardboard ramps. You will use clothespins to prop up one end of the cardboard to make a ramp. You will clip two clothespins on one end of a cardboard rectangle. You will clip a second clothespin on each of the first two clothespins to make legs. You will use the (show) plastic disks like wheels. (Demonstrate) Do not lean on the ramps, they will crumple.

(Bring students back to the carpet) How did your wheels move? Right, they slide and roll. When wheels go around on their edge, it is called rolling. Raise your hand if you have any ideas for getting the wheels to roll better. I have an idea. A shaft can be used as an axle. An axle is a rod or shaft to which wheels can be attached. (Show) Each group is going to get a shaft. I want you to see if your wheels roll better or more efficiently with a shaft.

(Provide small wheels) Do small wheels roll the same as large wheels?

Describe, show and demonstrate some of the interesting wheel systems students created.

Today we learned that things roll down ramps. We used two wheels the same size on an axle to roll straight. We used wheels of different sizes to make a roller that turns.

10/8

Yesterday, we experimented with rolling wheels. What kind of motion do wheels make? That’s right, wheels roll when they are in motion. Wheels are not the only things that roll. Cups also roll. You are going to get one large and one small cup to investigate to see how they roll.

Review how to set up ramps.

(Call back) Are your cups rolling? I’m hearing that your cups don’t roll straight. Why did the cup roll in a circle? Right, there is a big circle (wheel) at one end and a small one at the other. What determines which direction the cup will roll? Yes , the cups roll in the direction of the bottom (smaller circle). Does the smaller cup roll in a bigger circle or a smaller circle than the larger cup? (Smaller)

Pretend that your cup is a car. You want to park your car in the parking garage under your ramp. Try to make your cup roll off the ramp and end up parked under the ramp.

Now try rolling the small cup across the ramp in such a way that it ends up face down on the table. It can be done.

(Call back) What can be done to get the cups to roll straight? Fabulous ideas! When I say go you will go back with your partner and put your idea into action.

Distribute tape.

Add weight to the straight rollers.

(Call back) We need to write in our journal. What did you learn today? Weights can slow down, speed up, or stop the rolling motion of a cup. To make a cup roll straight, tape another cup to it and let it roll on the large ends. A cup will roll in the direction of the smaller end.