Standard #: MA.K.AR.1.2

Benchmark Instructional Guide

Connecting Benchmarks/Horizontal Alignment

• MA.K.NSO.1.1 
• MA.K.NSO.2.1 
• MA.K.NSO.3.1 
• MA.K.NSO.3.2 
• MA.K.AR.2.1

 

Terms from the K-12 Glossary

• Equation 
• Expression

 

Vertical Alignment

Previous Benchmarks

• VPK

 

Next Benchmarks

• MA.1.NSO.2.1 
• MA.1.AR.1.1

 

 

Purpose and Instructional Strategies

The purpose of this benchmark is to allow students to continue to flexibly discover various sums as they work towards procedural reliability in Kindergarten, and automaticity in grade 1 (MTR.2.1, MTR.5.1). 

• Instruction allows students to see multiple ways to add numbers to make a given number, such as 1 + 3, 2 + 2, and 3 + 1 are all ways to make 4 (MTR.2.1). 
• Instruction includes the use of manipulatives and pictorial representations. 
• Instruction includes the use of context to provide a purpose for adding (MTR.7.1). 
• Instruction includes making connections to subtraction equations related to addition equations (MTR.5.1). 
• Items include equations with one or both addends unknown. 
• Though there is no expectation that students name the commutative property, they should begin to discover the connections and patterns and recognize that if a + b = 10, then b + a = 10.

 

Common Misconceptions or Errors

• Students may not connect pairs of addends through the commutative property. Though there is no expectation that students name the commutative property, they should begin to discover the connections and patterns and recognize that if a + b = 10, then b + a = 10. 
• Students may not recognize that multiple pairs of addends represent the same sum. 
• Students may not recognize that the two numbers don’t have to be different.
  
  • For example, if the given number is 8 a student may not think to represent it as 4+4.

 

Strategies to Support Tiered Instruction

• Teacher provides opportunities to solve multiple expressions with the same sum using snap cubes (representing each addend with a different color). 
  
  • For example, students use snap cubes to build 3 + 4, 2 + 5, and 1 + 6 to represent a sum of seven. 

• Instruction provides opportunities to build multiple pairs of addends to represent given numbers 1 – 10 using snap cubes, two-color counters, hands, etc. 
  
  • For example, given the number 6, students model 1 + 5, 2 + 4, and 3 + 3 using snap cubes. Process repeats with multiple numbers, including odd numbers, so students begin to recognize that some numbers have repeating addends and others do not. Discussion should focus on the fact that the two addends can be the same number. 

• Instruction includes the opportunity to build sets of five using two-color counters to represent the commutative property. 
  
  • For example, students build 3 + 2 and 2 + 3 and 4 + 1 and 1 + 4. Students should write an equation to represent the counters. Teacher asks: How is the set of 3 + 2 and 2 + 3 the same? How are they different? Does it matter which addend comes first? Do you get the same sum if you add them in a different order? Students should use the models to develop the understanding that the order of the addends does not change the sum. 

• Teacher provides instruction for using two-color counters to decompose a number into multiple addends that represent the same sum. 
  • For example, students decompose a group of 7 counters into 6 red/1 yellow, 5 red/2 yellow, and 3 red/4 yellow. They write an equation for each representation to show that multiple pairs of addends can make the same sum. 

• Instruction includes the opportunity to use addend cards to build equations that represent doubles facts. Alternatively, math racks, dot cards, ten frames, etc... can be used in place of addend cards. 
  
  • For example, students are provided with array cards that represent multiple numbers. Students will need more than one of each card. Students use the cards to build equations for doubles facts and record the equation in writing.

 

Instructional Tasks

Instructional Task 1 

Show a student a number of counters from 0 to 10. Cover some of the counters and ask the student how many counters are hidden. Give the student an opportunity to record an equation for the situation. Repeat the task by covering different amounts of counters and/or starting with a different amount of counters.