Lesson plan of Basic Addition Facts

Objectives (5 minutes)

1. Introduce the concept of addition clearly and simply to young learners in elementary grades.
2. Develop students’ ability to recognize, count, and combine sets of objects in everyday situations.
3. Encourage active participation from students through hands-on, engaging activities that involve the concept of addition.

Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Review of Prior Knowledge: The teacher begins the lesson by recalling the concept of counting to students, which they should have learned in previous lessons. They can do this by asking simple questions, such as how many fingers they have on each hand, or how many students are present in the classroom.

2. Problem Situations: The teacher poses two problem situations that will introduce the need for the concept of addition. First, they could ask how many apples there would be if we have two baskets with two apples in each basket. Then, they could ask how many students are in the class if we have two rows with three students in each row.

3. Contextualization: The teacher explains that addition is an operation used to combine two or more quantities and that it is very useful in everyday situations, such as counting objects, figuring out the number of people in a group, or adding up points in a game.

4. Introduction to the Topic: To pique students’ interest, the teacher can share some fun facts about addition. For example, they can share that addition is one of the first mathematical operations that humans learned, and that it is used in many cultures around the world. They can also mention that addition can be represented in different ways, such as with numbers, with pictures, or even with real objects.

5. Attention Grabber: The teacher can introduce the topic of the lesson with a fun little game. They can show a mystery box to which they "add" objects, and ask students to guess how many objects are in the box after each addition. The box can contain everyday objects, such as pencils, erasers, or even candy, to make the activity more fun and interactive.

Development (20 - 25 minutes)

1. Addition Game with Pattern Blocks: The teacher introduces students to a set of pattern blocks (triangles, squares, and circles in different colors) and poses a challenge. They distribute the blocks among the students, and then show a combination on the board, for example: 2 yellow triangles + 3 red squares = ?. Students must then use their blocks to figure out the answer. The teacher repeats the process with different combinations, encouraging students to use their blocks to solve each challenge. This game helps students practice counting and combining sets, which are essential skills for understanding addition.

2. "Candy Shop" Activity: The teacher simulates a "candy shop" in the classroom, with different types of candies in dishes and their prices (written in numbers) in front of each dish. Students are divided into small groups and given an amount of "money" (play money) to spend at the shop. They must choose the candies they want to buy, add up the price of each one, and check if the total amount of what they bought matches the amount of money they have. This hands-on activity helps students understand the concept of addition in the context of money and commerce, as well as encouraging them to work in teams and make decisions.

3. "Math Hop" Game: The teacher draws a "hop scotch" on the board, with six circles numbered from 1 to 6. The teacher rolls a giant die with the numbers 1 to 6, and students take turns hopping on the "hop scotch" according to the number that is rolled. Each time a student lands on a circle, they must say the number they were on and the number they landed on, and the teacher asks: "How many hops did you take?". The student must then answer with the sum of the two numbers. This game helps students practice addition in a fun and dynamic way, and to understand addition as a "hopping" operation.

The teacher should choose one or two of the above activities according to the time available and the level of the students. During the activities, they should circulate around the room, helping students with difficulties and observing the progress of each one. At the end of the activities, the teacher should lead a group discussion, asking students to share their answers and the strategies they used, reinforcing the learning and the interaction among peers.

Debrief (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Group Discussion: The teacher gathers all the students together and leads a discussion about the solutions found in the activities. They can ask some students to share their answers and the strategies they used to get to them. The teacher should praise and value the different ways of solving a problem, emphasizing that mathematics allows for diverse approaches. During the discussion, the teacher should also check that the students have correctly understood the concept of addition and are able to apply it in different contexts.

2. Connection with Theory: Next, the teacher reviews the theoretical concepts presented at the beginning of the lesson and makes the connection with the hands-on activities carried out. They explain that addition is an operation used to combine two or more quantities, and that it can be represented in different ways, such as with numbers, with pictures, or with real objects. The teacher highlights how the hands-on activities allowed the students to explore and understand these concepts in a concrete and meaningful way.

3. Individual Reflection: To finish off the lesson, the teacher asks students to take a minute to reflect on what they have learned. They ask two simple questions to guide the reflection: "What did you like the most about today's lesson?" and "What did you find most difficult in today's lesson?". The students can think in silence for a minute and then share their answers with the teacher and their classmates, if they wish. The teacher should listen carefully to the students’ answers, valuing their opinions and feelings, and using this feedback to guide the planning of future lessons.

4. Extra Materials: The teacher can suggest some extra materials for students who wish to further their knowledge of addition. This could include interactive online games, math books for children, or activities to be carried out at home with their families. The teacher should emphasize that these materials are optional and are intended to enrich the learning, not to overload the students.

By the end of the lesson, students should have a solid understanding of the concept of addition, as well as having practiced the skill of counting and combining sets of objects in everyday situations. They should also have developed an interest in and a healthy curiosity for mathematics, thanks to the hands-on and engaging activities proposed.

Conclusion (5 - 10 minutes)

1. Summary of Contents: The teacher begins the conclusion by recapping the main points of the lesson. They remind students that they learned about addition, which is a mathematical operation used to combine two or more quantities. They reinforce that addition can be represented in different ways, such as with numbers, with pictures, or with real objects. The teacher highlights how the hands-on activities carried out in class helped students to understand and apply these concepts in a concrete and meaningful way.

2. Connection Between Theory and Practice: The teacher explains how the lesson connected theory and practice. They highlight that the initial review of counting and the problem situations presented set up the need for learning about addition. They also mention how the hands-on activities, such as the addition game with pattern blocks, the "candy shop" activity, and the "math hop" game, allowed students to apply what they learned in a fun and engaging way.

3. Importance of the Subject: The teacher emphasizes the importance of the topic, explaining that addition is a fundamental mathematical skill that is used in many aspects of everyday life, from counting objects to figuring out purchases at the grocery store. They also highlight how understanding addition can help students to develop problem-solving skills and logical thinking.

4. Complementary Materials: The teacher suggests some complementary materials for students who wish to further their knowledge of addition. They can recommend math books for children, educational online games, or activities to be carried out at home with their families. They can also encourage students to practice addition in everyday situations, such as when counting objects around the house or when playing games that involve adding up points.

5. Closure: The teacher brings the lesson to a close by reinforcing the importance of continuous learning and striving to improve mathematical skills. They congratulate the students on their effort and participation during the lesson and encourage them to continue exploring and learning about mathematics. They remind students that mathematics can be fun and interesting, and that they are capable of achieving success in their mathematical studies.