Saturday, March 23, 2013

Easter Math for my Peeps

Recently I've been trying to eat more naturally and more healthy. As a result I've been trying to avoid sugar. However, I can't help but walk down the Easter Candy aisle every time I go to Target. I haven't bought any....proud to share that. However, I still check out the sweet treats on sale for Easter. I can't help but remember how much I loved Peeps as a kid. Those incredibly sweet marshmallow bunnies and chicks inspired this Easter math freebie. You can now enjoy the nostalgic sweet Easter Treat without the guilt or belly-ache. (Click on the Title Page for your free download).










We've been exploring subtraction story problems in our class. As we move to the Common Core Standards and move toward deeper understanding of subtraction and other math concepts, we use a variety of visual strategies to solve story problems versus just learning how to set up a standard algorithm and learn subtracting procedures. An open number line has allowed students to see that the difference is really the DISTANCE between 2 numbers. That distance is the same regardless of adding to find it or subtracting to find it. This empowers students of varying abilities and levels of confidence of counting backwards or forwards, or adding on or subtracting back. Here is a standard equation I solved 3 ways with a number line.

The only procedure to keep in mind with an open number line is to keep the smallest number on the left and the largest number on the right. Throughout the solving process students ask themselves, "What am I trying to figure out? What do I not know?" Through this process students can identify the missing piece or number in the equation.

This process is a little more complex but allows students to understand the concept of subtraction more thoroughly.

Have a great week my blog "peeps!"



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