You will learn
- Say that addition means putting groups together.
- Use the words add, plus, equals and altogether.
- Read and write a simple addition sentence.
- Find how many in all for two small groups.
Version 0.2 Β· expanded edition Β· built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- Addition means putting groups together.
- Add, plus and altogether all talk about joining.
- We write it as 2 + 3 = 5.
- The answer is called the total.
Words to know
Put groups together to find the total.
The sign that means add.
The sign that means the same as.
How many in all.
1. Discover: two baskets
Ama has 2 mangoes in one basket. Kofi has 3 mangoes in another basket. They put all the mangoes in one big bowl. How many mangoes are in the bowl?
2. Understand: what is addition?
When we put groups together to find how many altogether, we add. We use the plus sign + and the equals sign =.
2 mangoes plus 3 mangoes equals 5 mangoes. We write 2 + 3 = 5.
The answer to an addition is called the sum or total.
Idea 1: Join two groups
Here are 2 apples and 3 apples. Put them together and count all. There are 5 apples.
Putting groups together is called addition.
Idea 2: The addition sentence
We write it as 2 + 3 = 5. We read it: two plus three equals five.
The sign + means plus. The sign = means is the same as.
Why write it? A sentence is a short way to tell the story.
Idea 3: Count on to add
You can start at 2 and count on 3: 3, 4, 5. The last number is the total.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Add 2 + 3
Join 2 red and 3 blue circles: π΄π΄ π΅π΅π΅
- Count the first group: 2.
- Count the second group: 3.
- Count all: 5.
Answer: 2 + 3 = 5
Example 2 (We do it together): Altogether
There is 1 mango. Then 4 more mangoes come. How many altogether?
- Write 1 + 4.
- Start at 1 and count on 4: 2, 3, 4, 5.
Answer: There are 5 mangoes altogether.
Example 3 (You try): Write a sentence
There are 4 stones and 3 stones. Write the sentence.
Show the steps and answer
- Write the first number: 4.
- Write +.
- Write 3.
- Write = and the total, 7.
Answer: 4 + 3 = 7
Did you know?
The plus sign + is thought to come from the Latin word et, which means and.
Why this matters
We add when we put things together: coins in a purse, children in a game, fruit in a basket.
4. Explore: put groups together
You need 10 counters.
- Make a group of 2 counters and a group of 4 counters.
- Push them together into one group.
- Count all the counters.
- Say: 2 plus 4 equals 6. Write 2 + 4 = 6.
Think about it: what did you notice?
Putting 2 and 4 together makes 6 altogether.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- ___ plus ___ equals ___.
- I put ___ and ___ together.
- Altogether there are ___.
- The addition sentence is ___ + ___ = ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. 2 + 1 = ?
3.
Question 2. What does the + sign mean?
It means add or put together.
Question 3. 3 apples and 2 apples. How many altogether?
3 + 2 = 5.
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- What does add mean?
- Write the sign for add.
- 4 + 1 = __
- Draw 2 circles and 3 circles. How many altogether?
- Read this out loud: 3 + 3 = 6.
Level 2: Grow
- 2 + 4 = __
- There are 3 birds. 2 more birds come. How many altogether?
- Write an addition sentence for 1 red and 3 blue counters.
Level 3: Stretch
- Mia has 4 pens. Ben has 5 pens. How many pens altogether? Write a sentence.
- Write two different addition sentences with the total 6.
- Ana says 3 + 2 = 6. Explain her mistake.
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: everyday mathematics
You have 4 pencils. Your friend gives you 2 more. How many pencils do you have now?
Show a sample answer
4 + 2 = 6 pencils.
Another one. You have 5 stones. A friend gives you 4 more stones. How many stones do you have?
Show a sample answer
5 + 4 = 9 stones.
7. Common mistakes
Fix: The + sign means put together, so the total gets bigger.
Fix: Plus means put together. The total is bigger.
Fix: Count the first group, then keep counting the second group. Check by counting all again.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can say that addition means putting groups together.
- I can use the words add, plus, equals and altogether.
- I can read and write an addition sentence.
- I can find how many in all for two small groups.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- Add means put groups together.
- + means plus and = means equals.
- The answer is the sum or total.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Combining groups. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- Work out 3 + 4. [1 mark]
- Write an addition sentence for 2 apples and 5 apples. [2 marks]
- There are 6 children on a bus. 3 more children get on. How many children are on the bus now? [2 marks]
- What does the = sign mean? [1 mark]
- Ali says that 4 + 2 = 8. Explain what is wrong and give the right answer. [2 marks]
Total: 8 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- 7 [1]
- 2 + 5 [1] = 7 [1]
- 6 + 3 [1] = 9 [1]
- The same as [1]
- 4 and 2 together make 6, not 8 [1]. 4 + 2 = 6 [1].
Score guide: 7 to 8 = secure. 5 to 6 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 5 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- 1 + 1 = __
- 2 + 2 = __
- 3 + 2 = __
- Draw 3 stars and 2 stars. How many altogether?
- Write the sign that means add.
- 3 + 3 = __
- 5 + 1 = __
- There are 4 hens and 2 more hens. How many altogether?
- Write an addition sentence for 2 apples and 2 apples.
- What does altogether mean?
Homework
At home, find two small groups of things (for example 2 spoons and 3 cups). Put them together, count, and tell a family member the addition sentence.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 + 1 = __ | 2 | 2 |
| 2 + 2 = __ | 4 | 2 |
| 3 + 2 = __ | 5 | 2 |
| Draw 3 stars and 2 stars. How many altogether? | 5 | 2 |
| Write the sign that means add. | + | 2 |
| Total | 10 |
Practice answers: Worksheet: 1 2; 2 4; 3 5; 4 5; 5 +.
Quiz answers: 1 A, 2 B, 3 C, 4 A, 5 B, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 C, Challenge 2 C.
Extra worksheet answers (items 6 onward): 6 6; 7 6; 8 6; 9 2 + 2 = 4; 10 How many in all.
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 to put groups together to find the total; 2 +; 3 5; 4 5 circles altogether, 2 + 3 = 5; 5 three plus three equals six. Level 2: 1 6; 2 5; 3 1 + 3 = 4. Level 3: 1 4 + 5 = 9; 2 For example 3 + 3 = 6 and 4 + 2 = 6; 3 3 and 2 make 5, not 6. 3 + 2 = 5..
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Say that addition means putting groups together | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Use the words add, plus, equals and altogether | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Read and write a simple addition sentence | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Find how many in all for two small groups | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90β100%; Silver = 80β89.9%; Bronze = 70β79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: Thinking that + means take away. The + sign means put together, so the total gets bigger.
- Explain another way: use real objects first, then pictures.
- Show a simpler example: Join two groups of 1 to 3 counters and count all of them together.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child learns that addition means putting groups together. You do not need to be good at mathematics to help.
- Use real objects: 3 spoons and 2 spoons. Put them together and count.
- Say the sentence out loud: three plus two equals five.
- Ask addition questions in daily life: 4 mangoes and 1 more?
- Ask βhow do you know?β after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1β5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: say that addition means putting groups together; use the words add, plus, equals and altogether; read and write a simple addition sentence; find how many in all for two small groups.
Prerequisite knowledge. Unit 1: counting objects to 20 and comparing numbers.
Materials. Counters (stones, seeds or bottle tops), paper, pencils, board or chalkboard. Low-resource options: use stones, seeds, sticks, bottle tops or drawings in the sand or on the board instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Gather the counters and draw the example pictures on the board before the lesson.
Suggested duration. 45β60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6β9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Start with the Discover situation and let learners suggest ideas before you teach.
Explanation (10 min). Teach the Understand section with real objects first, then pictures, then symbols and words.
Guided activity (10 min). You need 10 counters. Learners follow the Explore steps in pairs.
Independent activity (10 min). Learners complete the independent practice and the worksheet.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. What does plus mean? What does equals mean? What does altogether tell us?
Teacher explanation notes. Use the concrete, pictorial, abstract order: real objects first, then pictures, then symbols and words. Return to real objects whenever a learner needs support.
10β12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use real objects and work with a partner; say each step aloud together. Extension. Ask learners to make up their own example and explain it to a partner.
Formative assessment. Listen to learner explanations, ask βhow do you know?β, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. Thinking that + means take away. The + sign means put together, so the total gets bigger.
13β15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz and worksheet on this page. The 8-mark exam practice scheme, the 10-mark scheme and all answers are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer and the marking scheme before publication.
16β19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Join two groups of 1 to 3 counters and count all of them together. Enrichment. Invite learners to find or create three more examples at home or in the classroom and explain them. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which concepts learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points named in the Courseversity standard: Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, Cambridge Primary and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Official standards for this topic area. Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (official site): Grade 1 Β» Operations & Algebraic Thinking; Grade 1 Β» Number & Operations in Base Ten. These pages list the standards that cover this topic area; read them alongside the lesson.
Research used to shape this lesson. Common Core K.OA.A.1 and 1.OA.A.1 (addition as putting together); Cambridge Primary Mathematics Stage 1. These sources informed the lesson.