Post updated 9/22/24: Here are my favorite DIY math addition and subtraction activities I created to teach my students and kids in the kindergarten and first grade level. I have taught three years in a upper middle class kindergarten classroom where education to parents are very important. My kindergarteners at that particular campus were all much more advanced compared to all the other first grade students I have taught in a low poverty community. I avoid using worksheets and fill in the blanks.
Activity 1: Identifying True and False Math Facts
Target skills:
Identifying and sorting true and false math facts
Writing math equations and drawing a picture to show work
I will be making several sets of math facts for addition and subtraction and mixed equations of both for my little man.
Other variations:
Addition to 10
Addition to 20
Double facts
Subtraction to 10
Subtraction to 20
Activity 2: Writing math equations and drawing a picture to show work
Adaptations:
For beginner level, I would have my son choose their true facts from the sorting activity to copy it down and draw a picture to show. Once he is comfortable and understand the concept, he can create his own math equation and draw a picture using shapes, symbols, and tally marks as visual representations. As a number becomes too big, that’s when he will learn how to draw base ten blocks to show his big numbers, a square for 100, a stick for a group of ten, and circles for ones.
Activity 4: Writing addition and subtraction story problems
target skills: Learner writes simple addition and subtraction story problems using complete sentences and draw a story to match with their story.
Activity 3:
