Operations

Theoretical Background

                                                                                                                                                                 Core Concepts/Skills/Strategies

Addition

Core Concept- The concept of addition is that it involves 'joining things together'.It is the idea that number represents parts which can be counted. According to the language model this is 'student's language' but can slowly progress through the stages. It is also a visual representation.

To teach this concept I would use plastic sheep animals and put three in one 'paddock' and one in another 'paddock'. I would explain to the children that we need to know how many sheep there were as we needed to feed them. I would use the student's language 'put together' or 'join together'.

Skill- A skill for addition involves recognising the '+' symbol and knowing and understanding the function of this symbol with the ability to find an answer. This is symbolic language.

After the students had mastered the concept of addition I would show them the '+' sign and explain that it means to 'put together' or 'join'. I would use the same example with the farm animals and put a '+' sign on the floor between the paddocks. This is student's language or children's language which slowly moves through the stages to symbolic language.

Strategy- A strategy for addition could be to use the 'count on' method. This involves continuing to count to 'join' the amount of objects together.

Here is an example of how to teach the count on method. Folding at the black line, ask the student using student's language to count the swirls on one side, and then reveal the other side and continue counting.

Subtraction

Core concept- The concept of subtraction is 'when you know the total and one part of the total, and you have to find the other part' (Jamieson-Proctor, 2011). It is important to teach students the concept of subtraction before the skills and strategy.

An example of how this can be taught is by using apples. Line up the apples on a table in front of the students. Then explain that a customer is going to by 2 of these apples and put them in a bag. Suggest that they need to find out how many are left so that they can see if they have enough for their next customer.

Skill- .Like addition, the skill for subtraction is being able to find the answer and recognising the '-' sign.

This can be achieved by after doing visual examples with the apples and counting the remaining ones with the children, showing on the board how to create a 'sum' using the '-' sign'. It can be written on the board like this.

Strategy- A strategy that could be used in subtraction could involve 'counting back'.

Counting back is effective when dealing with numbers 0,1,2 and 3. An effective way of teaching counting back could involve using the apples again. They are to be taught to count the first set, and then count backwards the number of apples that were sold.

Learning and Teaching Resources

1.

This learning resource is an Addition Mat. (Resources from tutorials found on http://usqstudydesk.usq.edu.au/mod/resource/view.php?id=405670&subdir=/Pictures)

It can be used to:

* Introduce the concept of addition by using student's language explaining to students to 'join' or 'put together' the animals in the different pens.

* Introduce the skill of addition by allowing students to reach an answer of a problem or question. It can demonstrate the students understanding and show that they can have the skill to answer the question. This can also be used to teach students material and symbolic language.

*Introduce and reinforce the strategy of 'counting on' from each pen using student's language.

2.

This resource is known as Counting on cards (http://usqstudydesk.usq.edu.au/mod/resource/view.php?id=405670&subdir=/Pictures)

These cards can be used to:

* Introduce the strategy of counting on for addition. This is done by folding the card at the line, and couting the first value of objects and then unfolding the card and continuing to count. It can also be used to reinforce and practise the strategy of counting on.

* Introduce the strategy of counting back for subtraction. This is by couting the value of objects in the first box and then unfolding and counting backwards for the rest. This is can also be used to reinforce and practise the strategy of counting back. This can also teach students symbolic language.

3.

Click here to view youtube clip. If this does not work, use this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcG-jek6aoE&NR=1

This clip can be used to:

* Introduce the concept addition and subtraction by using a physical representation of number.

*Teach students to progress through the language model from Student's language to symbolic language.

*It could be used to reinforce the ideas already learnt, as many children remember things through music well.

Lesson Plan for Year 1, Addition

Reference List

Karp K, Bay-Williams J & Van De Walle J. (2010) Elementary & Middle School Mathematics 7th ed. USA: Pearson Education

Lovell K. (1971) The Growth of Understanding in Mathematics: Kindergarten through grade three. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston

Jamieson-Proctor R. (2011) Lecture one to four.