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Clusters should not be sorted from Major to Supporting and then taught in that order. To do so would strip the coherence of the mathematical ideas and miss the opportunity to enhance the major work of the grade with the supporting clusters.
Related Courses
Related Access Points
Related Resources
Formative Assessments
Instructional Technique
Lesson Plans
Original Student Tutorials
Problem-Solving Tasks
Professional Development
Tutorials
STEM Lessons - Model Eliciting Activity
This MEA focuses on students' problem solving skills. After reading a story about what is in a piñata, students are asked to help a company find the best way to fill a piñata. It focuses on math skills, including counting and adding three numbers to make 20.
Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.
Students will use pattern blocks to create a quilt square for the Quick Quilters Society. They will have to consider information on a data chart to help them create their squares. They will have to add up the cost to make their square, too.
Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.
MFAS Formative Assessments
Students are asked to solve two Add To (Change Unknown) word problems using pencil and paper or other appropriate manipulatives.
Students are asked to solve two Add To (Result Unknown) word problems using pencil and paper or other appropriate manipulatives.
Students are asked to solve two Add To (Start Unknown) word problems using pencil and paper or other appropriate manipulatives.
Students are asked to solve two Take From (Change Unknown) word problems using pencil and paper or other appropriate manipulatives.
Students are asked to solve two Compare (Bigger Unknown) problems presented using the terms more than and fewer than.
Students are asked to solve two Compare (Difference Unknown) word problems within 20 using pencil and paper or other appropriate manipulatives.
Students are asked to solve two Compare (Smaller Unknown) word problems using pencil and paper or other appropriate manipulatives.
Students are asked to solve two Compare problems presented using the terms more than and fewer than.
Students are asked to solve a Compare (Difference Unknown) word problem using pencil and paper or other appropriate manipulatives.
Students are asked to solve two Add To (Change Unknown) word problems using pencil and paper or other appropriate manipulatives.
Students are asked to solve two Put Together/Take Apart (Addend Unknown) word problems using pencil and paper or other appropriate manipulatives.
Students are asked to solve a Put Together/Take Apart (Both Addends Unknown) word problem using pencil and paper or other appropriate manipulatives.
Students are asked to solve two Put Together/Take Apart (Total Unknown) word problems using pencil and paper or other appropriate manipulatives.
Students are asked to solve two Put Together/Take Apart (Addend Unknown) word problems using pencil and paper or other appropriate manipulatives.
Students are asked to solve two Take From (Change Unknown) word problems using pencil and paper or other appropriate manipulatives.
Students are asked to solve two Take From (Result Unknown) word problems using pencil and paper or other appropriate manipulatives.
Students are asked to solve two Take From (Start Unknown) word problems using pencil and paper or other appropriate manipulatives.
Students are asked to solve two Take From (Start Unknown) word problems using pencil and paper or other appropriate manipulatives.
Students are asked to solve two Compare problems presented using the terms more than and fewer than.
Original Student Tutorials Mathematics - Grades K-5
Join Juliana for her 8th birthday party! Learn to solve addition problems within 20 using objects and creating drawings in this interactive student tutorial.
Help Mario and Gretchen model and write equations for addition word problems, in this interactive tutorial.
This is part 1 in a 3-part series. Click below to explore the other tutorials in the series.
Part 1: Addition Word Problems Around the Zoo (this one)
Part 2: Subtraction Word Problems Around the Zoo
Part 3: Word Problems Around the Zoo
Help Mario and Gretchen model and write equations for subtraction word problems in this interactive tutorial.
This is part 2 in a 3-part series. Click below to explore the other tutorials in the series.
Part 1: Addition Word Problems Around the Zoo
Part 2: Subtraction Word Problems Around the Zoo (this one)
Help Gretchen and Mario differentiate between addition and subtraction word problems during their field trip to the zoo in this interactive tutorial.
This is part 3 in a 3-part series. Click below to explore the other tutorials in the series.
Part 1: Addition Word Problems Around the Zoo
Part 2: Subtraction Word Problems Around the Zoo
Part 3: Word Problems Around the Zoo (this one)
Student Resources
Original Student Tutorials
Join Juliana for her 8th birthday party! Learn to solve addition problems within 20 using objects and creating drawings in this interactive student tutorial.
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Help Mario and Gretchen model and write equations for addition word problems, in this interactive tutorial.
This is part 1 in a 3-part series. Click below to explore the other tutorials in the series.
Part 1: Addition Word Problems Around the Zoo (this one)
Part 2: Subtraction Word Problems Around the Zoo
Part 3: Word Problems Around the Zoo
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Help Mario and Gretchen model and write equations for subtraction word problems in this interactive tutorial.
This is part 2 in a 3-part series. Click below to explore the other tutorials in the series.
Part 1: Addition Word Problems Around the Zoo
Part 2: Subtraction Word Problems Around the Zoo (this one)
Part 3: Word Problems Around the Zoo
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Help Gretchen and Mario differentiate between addition and subtraction word problems during their field trip to the zoo in this interactive tutorial.
This is part 3 in a 3-part series. Click below to explore the other tutorials in the series.
Part 1: Addition Word Problems Around the Zoo
Part 2: Subtraction Word Problems Around the Zoo
Part 3: Word Problems Around the Zoo (this one)
Type: Original Student Tutorial
Problem-Solving Tasks
These problems explicitly describe one-to-one correspondences without using comparison language. Such problems are easier for students to solve than problems that use comparison language such as "How many more?" or "How many fewer."
Type: Problem-Solving Task
This task represents the Put Together/Take Apart with both addends unknown context for addition and subtraction. Once a student finds one correct answer, he/she can be encouraged to find another. Ask the student to use objects, pictures, or equations to represent each answer.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
Students may use either addition or subtraction to solve these types of word problems, with addition related to the action of putting together and subtraction related to the action of taking apart. Depending on how students think about these word problems, either is appropriate for the "addend unknown" problems. Seeing it both ways emphasizes the relationship between addition and subtraction.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
This task includes three different problem types using the "Add To" context with a discrete quantity.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
Students benefit from encountering one problem type limited to small numbers and to develop strategies for that type of problem before encountering mixed sets of problems and larger numbers that distract the student from the problem itself. Over time they will be able to distinguish between types of problems in mixed sets and apply the appropriate strategy to solve each.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
The purpose of this task is for students to gain a better understanding of measurements with the example being the growth of a pet snake.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
This task could be used for either instructional or assessment purposes, depending on where students are in their understanding of addition and how the teacher supports them. The solution shown is very terse; students' solution strategies are likely to be much more varied.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
These task types represent the Take From contexts for addition and subtraction. This task includes the three different problem types using the Take From context: result unknown, change unknown, and start unknown. Students need experience and practice with all three types.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
Tutorials
In this tutorial video from Khan Academy, a word problem is solved with unit cubes, as well as with a missing addend addition equation and a subtraction equation.
Type: Tutorial
In this tutorial video from Khan Academy, explore place value relationships with tens and ones within 20.
Type: Tutorial
In this tutorial, you will learn how to solve a result unknown word problems: 10 - 2 = ?.
Type: Tutorial
Parent Resources
Problem-Solving Tasks
These problems explicitly describe one-to-one correspondences without using comparison language. Such problems are easier for students to solve than problems that use comparison language such as "How many more?" or "How many fewer."
Type: Problem-Solving Task
The purpose of this task is for students to relate addition and subtraction problems to money in a context that introduces the concept of scarcity. Scarcity occurs when you want or need more than you can have. Students may want to buy everything but will discover that it not possible with only $7 and they will have to make decisions.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
This task represents the Put Together/Take Apart with both addends unknown context for addition and subtraction. Once a student finds one correct answer, he/she can be encouraged to find another. Ask the student to use objects, pictures, or equations to represent each answer.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
Students may use either addition or subtraction to solve these types of word problems, with addition related to the action of putting together and subtraction related to the action of taking apart. Depending on how students think about these word problems, either is appropriate for the "addend unknown" problems. Seeing it both ways emphasizes the relationship between addition and subtraction.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
This task includes three different problem types using the "Add To" context with a discrete quantity.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
Students benefit from encountering one problem type limited to small numbers and to develop strategies for that type of problem before encountering mixed sets of problems and larger numbers that distract the student from the problem itself. Over time they will be able to distinguish between types of problems in mixed sets and apply the appropriate strategy to solve each.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
In this task, students work in pairs to measure a block using paperclips.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
The purpose of this task is for students to gain a better understanding of measurements with the example being the growth of a pet snake.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
This task could be used for either instructional or assessment purposes, depending on where students are in their understanding of addition and how the teacher supports them. The solution shown is very terse; students' solution strategies are likely to be much more varied.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
These task types represent the Take From contexts for addition and subtraction. This task includes the three different problem types using the Take From context: result unknown, change unknown, and start unknown. Students need experience and practice with all three types.
Type: Problem-Solving Task
Tutorials
In this tutorial video from Khan Academy, a word problem is solved with unit cubes, as well as with a missing addend addition equation and a subtraction equation.
Type: Tutorial
In this tutorial video from Khan Academy, explore place value relationships with tens and ones within 20.
Type: Tutorial
In this tutorial, you will learn how to solve a result unknown word problems: 10 - 2 = ?.
Type: Tutorial
