Four illustrated word problems, each adding three numbers with sums from 12 to 16. Maya picks 4 red, 3 green and 5 yellow apples, Leo spots 6 ducks, 4 frogs and 3 turtles, Sam counts 5 star, 5 heart and 4 smiley stickers, and Ella bakes 7 vanilla, 3 chocolate and 6 strawberry cupcakes. Under every story sits the same frame: an equation line with three blanks and a sentence to finish, such as 'Maya picked ______ apples in all.'
1.OA.1
“Use addition and subtraction within 20 to solve word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.”
Problem 2 mixes ducks, frogs and turtles into one putting-together story with the total unknown.
1.OA.2
“Solve word problems that call for addition of three whole numbers whose sum is less than or equal to 20, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.”
All four problems add three whole numbers, with the largest total at 7 + 3 + 6 = 16.
Each story pairs with a picture, an equation frame ______ + ______ + ______ = ______ and an answer sentence to complete. The number sets are 4 + 3 + 5, 6 + 4 + 3, 5 + 5 + 4 and 7 + 3 + 6.
A box at the top reads 'Strategy Tip: Look for two numbers that make 10, or use doubles to help you add!' Three of the four stories hide such a pair, like the 6 and 4 in Leo's animals.
Answers give the full equation and the completed sentence, for example 4 + 3 + 5 = 12 apples.
After teaching make a ten
Assign it the day after the make-a-ten lesson and ask students to circle the two addends they combined first. Leo's 6 + 4 and Ella's 7 + 3 both make ten; Sam's 5 + 5 is a double.
Independent work
The equation frame does the scaffolding, so most students can work alone while you pull a small group.
Extension
Have early finishers rewrite Ella's cupcake problem with their own three numbers that still total 16 or less.
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