Objective: Students will be able to use connecting cubes to represent number groups and solve addition equations.
Anticipatory set: Began by using the Smart Board to show the students a picture of counters. Asks, “Who can tell me they see on the smart board?”. Students are expected to answer correctly from having previous work experience with counters. Show the students drawings of a frog, a pair of shoes and an ice cream cone using the smart board. Ask the students to identify the photos. Ask students to define number stories. Ask the students’ to think of a number between 1 and 5. Us the student’s suggested numbers to create number stories with the drawings.
Input: Instruct the students to the white tape area. Demonstrate how to use the connecting cubes to solve number stories. Recite a number story about three fishing boats on the lake. Inform students about one boat on a lake. Hold up a red cube to represent the boat. Inform students that two more boats appear on the lake. Hold up two blue cubes to represent the boats. Join (connect) all cubes together. Ask the following questions:
-How many cubes are there all together?
-Why are there two different colored groups of cubes?
Direct students to their seats and inform students that they will practice using the connecting cubes to solve number stories. Recite and show three number stories, while demonstrating the use of connecting cubes. Instruct students to use the connecting cubes to represent each number group. Ask the students to state how many cubes there are all together for each number story. Observe and assess the student’s understanding of the use of connecting cubes through a checklist. Introduce the Connecting Cubes worksheet activity.
Modeling/Guided practice: Explain to students that they are to use connecting cubes to complete the worksheet activity. Reveal the worksheet to the students. Explain that the squares symbolize the connecting cubes, which the students color according to the numbers in each number group. Provide students with an example. Instruct students to look at the worksheet and identify the numbers under the squares. Gather the number identified by each student of (two different colors) connecting cubes. Connect all cubes and ask students to count them all together. Direct the student’s attention back to the worksheet and demonstrate color differentiation of the number groups, using a crayon.
Independent Practice: Place the materials at the student’s desk. Provide each student with 20 connecting cubes (10 red and 10 blue). Instruct the students to work alone for this activity. Inform students to only use the connecting cubes for work purposes. Walk around the classroom to ensure that students are following directions and are on task.
Closure: After 10 minutes, have the students meet on the floor area to discuss their answers.
Assessment: The students are informally assessed throughout the lesson based on their participation and answering questions. The students are formally assessed on their completion of the Connecting Cubes worksheet activity. The student’s work is critiqued from their answers, effort and their understanding of coloring to represent the number groups.
Technology: Technology is only implemented during the anticipatory set and input to display drawings. Following is a description of how technology could be further implemented within the lesson:
-Please consider adding an addition song in your lesson, specifically during the anticipatory set. It’s developmentally appropriate and gives the students an opportunity to utilize their bodily kinesthetic multiple intelligences.
-Please consider using visuals for each number story recited.