Courseversity

Lesson

Addition using objects

Primary EducationGrade 1MathematicsCV-PRI-G01-MATH-OPS-U01-L0345–60 min

You will learn

  • Add using real objects.
  • Act out an addition story.
  • Write the number sentence for objects joined.
  • Check an answer by recounting.

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

The lesson in 60 seconds

  1. Use real objects to add: stones, seeds, bottle tops.
  2. Join the two groups, then count all.
  3. Write what you did as a number sentence.
  4. Check by counting again.

Words to know

objects
Real things you can touch, like stones or seeds.
join
Put together.
number sentence
Numbers and signs that tell a maths story, like 4 + 2 = 6.
check
Make sure an answer is right.

1. Discover: a market

At the market, a seller has 6 oranges in one tray. She puts 2 more oranges in the tray. How many oranges are in the tray now?

2. Understand: adding with objects

We can use objects to add. Use stones, seeds or bottle tops as counters.

  1. Make the first group: 6 counters.
  2. Add the second group: 2 more counters.
  3. Count all the counters: 8.
  4. Write the sentence: 6 + 2 = 8.

To check, count all the counters again.

6
+ 2
= 8

Idea 1: Act it out

Story: you hold 4 seeds in one hand and 5 seeds in the other. Join them on the table. Count all: 9.

Why use objects? You can see and touch the addition. It makes the idea clear.

Idea 2: Write the number sentence

Write the first group, then +, then the second group, then = and the total: 4 + 5 = 9.

Idea 3: Check your answer

Count all again. Or count on from the bigger number. If both ways give 9, you can trust it.

Remember: Use objects to join groups, count all, then write the number sentence.

3. Worked examples

Example 1 (I show you): Add 6 + 3

Join 6 red and 3 blue counters: πŸ”΄πŸ”΄πŸ”΄πŸ”΄πŸ”΄πŸ”΄ πŸ”΅πŸ”΅πŸ”΅

  1. Count the red: 6.
  2. Count on the blue: 7, 8, 9.

Answer: 6 + 3 = 9

Example 2 (We do it together): Act out a story

Ama has 5 stones. She finds 2 more.

  1. Put 5 stones on the table.
  2. Add 2 more stones.
  3. Count all: 7.
  4. Write 5 + 2 = 7.

Answer: Ama has 7 stones.

Example 3 (You try): Check 8 + 1

Work out 8 + 1 and check.

Show the steps and answer
  1. Make 8. Add 1 more.
  2. Count all: 9.
  3. Count again to check: 9.

Answer: 8 + 1 = 9

Did you know?

People used pebbles to add long ago. The word calculate comes from the Latin word calculus, which means a small stone.

Why this matters

Real objects let you see addition. This helps you understand it before you use only numbers.

4. Explore: act it out

You need 12 counters.

  1. Make 7 counters. Add 3 more.
  2. Count all of them.
  3. Write the number sentence.
  4. Make your own story and add with counters.
Think about it: what did you notice?

7 and 3 more is 10. The sentence is 7 + 3 = 10.

5. Practise

Say it in a sentence

Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.

  • I joined ___ and ___.
  • There are ___ in all.
  • My number sentence is ___ + ___ = ___.
  • I checked by ___.

Guided practice

Question 1. 5 + 3 = ?

8.

Question 2. 4 counters and 4 counters. Total?

8.

Question 3. Write the sentence for 6 and 1.

6 + 1 = 7.

Independent practice

Level 1: Start

  1. 6 + 3 = __
  2. 7 + 2 = __
  3. 8 + 1 = __
  4. Make 5 counters and add 5. How many?
  5. Write a story for 4 + 4.

Level 2: Grow

  1. 5 + 4 = __
  2. You have 3 seeds and get 6 more. How many seeds?
  3. Write a number sentence for 7 stones and 2 stones.

Level 3: Stretch

  1. Ama has 6 stones. She finds 2 more, then 1 more. How many stones?
  2. Make two groups that join to make 10. Write the sentence.
  3. Kofi says 7 + 2 = 8. How can he check?

Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.

6. Apply: everyday mathematics

You have 5 beads and find 4 more. How many beads do you have now?

Show a sample answer

5 + 4 = 9 beads.

Another one. You have 8 bottle tops and a friend gives you 2 more. How many do you have? Show it with real objects.

Show a sample answer

Put down 8, add 2, count all: 10. 8 + 2 = 10.

7. Common mistakes

Mistake: Forgetting to count the first group when counting the total.
Fix: Count all the objects after joining, from the very first one.
Another mistake: Counting the first group again when joining.
Fix: Count the first group once, then keep counting on from there.
Another mistake: Not checking the answer.
Fix: Count all again or count on. If the answers match, you can trust it.

8. Lesson summary and revision card

I can…

  • I can add using real objects.
  • I can act out an addition story.
  • I can write the number sentence for objects joined.
  • I can check an answer by counting again.

9. Check and master

Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.

1. 6 + 2 = ?

2. You have 7 counters and add 3. How many now?

3. Which sentence matches 4 seeds and 5 seeds?

4. After you join the groups, what do you do to check?

5. 8 + 1 = ?

6. 5 + 3 = ?

7. You have 4 counters and add 4 more. How many now?

8. Which sentence matches 6 seeds and 2 seeds?

9. What is a good way to check an addition?

10. 7 + 1 = ?

11. You have 5 stones and find 3 more, then 1 more. How many stones?

12. Which story matches 3 + 4 = 7?

Challenge 1. You have 6 stones and find 2 more, then 1 more. How many stones?

Challenge 2. Mia has 4 stones. She finds 3 more. She says she has 8. How can she check?

Your result appears here after you answer every question.

10. Key takeaways

  • Use objects to join groups and count all.
  • Write a number sentence with + and =.
  • Recount to check your answer.

11. Next lesson

Next lesson: Addition using pictures. 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.

  1. Work out 6 + 3. You may draw. [1 mark]
  2. Write a number sentence for 5 apples and 4 apples. [2 marks]
  3. Kofi has 7 stones. He finds 2 more. How many stones does he have now? [2 marks]
  4. Write a short story for 3 + 3. [2 marks]
  5. Ada says 8 + 1 = 10. Tell her how to check and what the answer is. [2 marks]

Total: 9 marks.

Marking guide and model answers
  1. 9 [1]
  2. 5 + 4 [1] = 9 [1]
  3. 7 + 2 [1] = 9 [1]
  4. A story with two groups of 3 [1]; total 6 stated [1]
  5. Join 8 and 1 objects and count all again [1]. 8 + 1 = 9 [1].

Score guide: 8 to 9 = secure. 6 to 7 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 6 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.

Printable worksheet

  1. 5 + 5 = __
  2. 6 + 3 = __
  3. 7 + 1 = __
  4. 3 + 6 = __
  5. Write the sentence for 4 and 2.
  6. 4 + 5 = __
  7. 9 + 1 = __
  8. You have 3 seeds and 3 seeds. How many?
  9. Write a number sentence for 6 beads and 1 bead.
  10. How can you check 5 + 2 = 7?

Homework

Use stones or seeds at home. Make three addition sentences with totals under 10. Write them and show a family member.

Answer key and marking scheme

Question Expected response Marks
5 + 5 = __ 10 2
6 + 3 = __ 9 2
7 + 1 = __ 8 2
3 + 6 = __ 9 2
Write the sentence for 4 and 2. 4 + 2 = 6 2
Total 10

Practice answers: Worksheet: 1 10; 2 9; 3 8; 4 9; 5 4 + 2 = 6.

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 9; 7 10; 8 6; 9 6 + 1 = 7; 10 Count all again.

Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 9; 2 9; 3 9; 4 10; 5 your own story with total 8, such as 4 mangoes and 4 mangoes. Level 2: 1 9; 2 9; 3 7 + 2 = 9. Level 3: 1 9; 2 For example 6 + 4 = 10; 3 Join 7 and 2 objects and count all again. There are 9, so 7 + 2 = 9..

Mastery and remediation

Objective Bronze (Developing) Silver (Proficient) Gold (Advanced)
O1 Add using real objects 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 Act out an addition story 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 Write the number sentence for objects joined 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 Check an answer by recounting 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 = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.

If a learner struggles

  1. Find the misconception: Forgetting to count the first group when counting the total. Count all the objects after joining, from the very first one.
  2. Explain another way: use real objects first, then pictures.
  3. Show a simpler example: Use two small groups of counters and say the sentence slowly while joining.
  4. Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
  5. Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
  6. Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.

For parents and guardians

In this lesson your child adds using real objects and writes the number sentence. You do not need to be good at mathematics to help.

  • Add with real things: spoons, stones, bottle tops.
  • Let your child say the story, then write the sentence.
  • Always ask: how can we check?
  • Ask β€œhow do you know?” 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

1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration

Lesson objectives. Learners will: add using real objects; act out an addition story; write the number sentence for objects joined; check an answer by recounting.

Prerequisite knowledge. Lessons 1 and 2.

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. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.

6–9. 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 12 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 did you join? How many in all? How can you check?

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.

10–12. 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 β€œhow do you know?”, and check the independent work.

Misconceptions. Forgetting to count the first group when counting the total. Count all the objects after joining, from the very first one.

13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme

Use the quiz and worksheet on this page. The 9-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.

16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection

Remediation. Use two small groups of counters and say the sentence slowly while joining. 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 K.OA.A.2 (representing addition with objects); Cambridge Primary Mathematics Stage 1. These sources informed the lesson.

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