Lesson Plan
Add It Up: Picture Power!
Students will develop and apply strategies for solving addition problems within 20, progressing from concrete manipulatives to drawings, and finally to abstract equations, with an emphasis on self-monitoring and independence.
Mastering addition is a foundational skill for all future math concepts. This lesson helps students build confidence and independence by providing clear strategies and self-monitoring tools.
Audience
1st Grade
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Hands-on drawing and matching activities leading to equation writing.
Materials
- Addition Problem Cards, - Matching Drawing Cards, - Teacher whiteboard and dry erase markers, - Exit Ticket, - Self-Monitoring Checklist, - Colored dry erase markers, and - Whiteboards or lined paper
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Add It Up: Picture Power! Lesson Plan and all generated materials.
- Print and cut out the Addition Problem Cards.
- Print and cut out the Matching Drawing Cards.
- Prepare a whiteboard and dry erase markers for teacher modeling.
- Make copies of the Exit Ticket for each student.
- Make copies of the Self-Monitoring Checklist for each student.
Step 1
Warm-up
5 minutes
What the Teacher is Doing
- Draw 8 circles on the board. Say: “Let’s count these together. How many do we have?”
- Draw 6 more circles. Say: “Now I added 6 more. How many in all?” (pause for answers) “Good. Let’s write this as a math equation: 8 + 6 = 14.”
- Ask: “What did you notice was different about this problem? What did you notice was the same?”
- Say: “We are going to take our addition skills further today. We are going to use pictures just like our drawings and match them to problems with sums up to 20.”
### What the Students are Doing
- Count aloud with the teacher: “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.”
- Respond to the question: “14.”
- Repeat the equation with the teacher: “8 + 6 = 14.”
- Respond to teacher questions with their observations.
Step 2
Teacher Input/Modeling - I Do
5 minutes
What the Teacher is Doing
- Display the Matching Drawing Cards and Addition Problem Cards options.
- Say: “I am going to count the circles in my picture and see which problem matches the representation.”
- Show Picture 1: 5 blue circles & 7 red circles. Count out loud. Say: “I have 5 blue circles and 7 red circles. This is 5 + 7 and altogether there are 12 circles. Which equation card shows 5 + 7? This one. How do we know?”
- Put both cards together and put them to the side.
- Say: “Here is our next problem. We are going to start with the equation first: 7 + 6.”
- Think out loud: “I am looking for a picture that shows 7 circles of one color and 6 circles of a different color. This will help us find our answer.”
- Model counting out loud on each card and ask if the representation is the one that matches. When the correct match is found, ask “How do we know? What is the sum?”
### What the Students are Doing
- Watch the teacher demonstration.
- Count aloud as the teacher counts circles.
- Repeat the equation after the teacher.
- Respond to check-in: “The circles match the numbers.”
- Say yes or no as the teacher counts. Say: “We know because the circles match the numbers in the problem. The sum is 13.”
Step 3
Guided Practice - We Do
15 minutes
What the Teacher is Doing
- Hand out colored dry erase markers and whiteboards to each student.
- Display a problem card (e.g., from Addition Problem Cards) and say: “Our problem is 5 + 3. Let’s do this together.”
- Prompt step by step:
- “Draw 5 circles on your board.”
- “Now add 3 more circles.”
- “Count all of them out loud with me.”
- “Now write the equation 5 + 3 = 8 on your whiteboard.”
- Sentence frame prompt: Say: “I solved the problem by ___.”
- Circulate to monitor, giving feedback like: “Try counting again,” or “Yes, you matched your drawing to your equation.”
### What the Students are Doing
- Draw circles to represent the problem.
- Count aloud with teacher and peers: “1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.”
- Write the equation on their whiteboard.
- Use the sentence frame and say: “I solved the problem by drawing 5 blue circles, then 3 red circles, and counting them all. Altogether I have 8 circles.”
- Respond to corrective feedback and make adjustments.
Step 4
Independent Practice - You Do
10 minutes
What the Teacher is Doing
- Provide each student with 3 Addition Problem Cards and corresponding Matching Drawing Cards.
- Say the directions: “Your turn to match the cards given to you. After you have matched the card, find the sum. Check your work with your self-checklist: Did I draw a picture to match the problem? Did I write an equation? Did I check my answer?”
- Observe and record data on a checklist for accuracy and independence.
### What the Students are Doing
- Independently match the cards.
- Write matching equations on whiteboards or lined paper and find the sum for each problem.
- Use a Self-Monitoring Checklist to monitor progress and say: “Yes, my picture matches the problem. Yes, I wrote the equation. Yes, I checked my answer.”
- Ask for help if stuck.
Step 5
Closure
5 minutes
What the Teacher is Doing
- Review one problem with the group.
- Ask: “How does drawing a picture help you solve the problem?”
- Connect to the next lesson by saying: “Great work today. Next time, we will practice applying these strategies to solving word problems. For your exit ticket today, I am going to give you a picture and you are going to write the number sentence below the picture, including the sum.”
### What the Students are Doing
- Share responses: “The circles helped me see the numbers.” “I was able to solve the problem by counting circles to match the equation.”
- Listen to the teacher preview of the next step.
Step 6
Exit Ticket
5 minutes
What the Teacher is Doing
- Give each student one Exit Ticket with a picture and have them write the corresponding number sentence.
- Observe each student briefly as they solve and collect exit tickets.
### What the Students are Doing
- Count aloud as they work.
- Record matching equations on the ticket (e.g., 8 + 7 = 15).
- Hand in a completed exit ticket.
Slide Deck
Welcome to Addition Adventure!
Let's become Addition Masters!
Welcome students and introduce the day's lesson. Briefly recap yesterday's learning if applicable.
Warm-Up: Count and Conquer!
How many circles do you see?
How many now?
What's the equation?
What did you notice?
Lead the warm-up activity as described in the lesson plan. Draw circles and guide counting and equation writing. Ask observation questions.
Today's Mission: Match & Solve!
We will match drawings to addition problems.
We will use pictures to help us find the sum.
Explain the day's objective: matching pictures to equations for addition within 20.
I Do: See It, Solve It!
Watch me count the circles.
Watch me find the matching equation.
How do I know it matches?
Model the 'I Do' section from the lesson plan. Show an example of matching drawings to an equation. Point out how colors help differentiate groups.
We Do: Draw, Count, Write!
Let's solve 5 + 3 together!
- Draw 5 circles.
- Add 3 more circles (use a different color!)
- Count them all!
- Write the equation: 5 + 3 = ___
- Use our sentence frame: "I solved + by drawing ___ circles, then ____ circles, and counting them all. Altogether, I have _____ circles."
Guide students through the 'We Do' section. Provide a problem (e.g., 5+3) and have them draw circles on their whiteboards. Emphasize using different colors for groups of numbers. Guide them to write the equation and use the sentence frame.
You Do: Independent Challenge!
Your turn to match problems and pictures!
Find the sum for each.
Use your Self-Monitoring Checklist to check your work!
Explain the independent practice. Distribute problem cards and drawing cards. Remind them to use the self-monitoring checklist.
Wrap It Up: Reflect and Review
How did drawing help you solve problems today?
Great job, mathematicians! Get ready for your exit ticket!
Review one problem from independent practice. Ask students to share how drawing pictures helped them. Transition to the exit ticket.
Show What You Know: Exit Ticket!
Look at the picture.
Write the addition sentence and the sum.
Explain the exit ticket. Students will receive a picture and write the corresponding number sentence and sum.
Activity
Addition Problem Cards
Cut along the dotted lines to create individual problem cards.
5 + 7 = ?
8 + 6 = ?
7 + 6 = ?
9 + 4 = ?
6 + 5 = ?
10 + 3 = ?
4 + 8 = ?
11 + 2 = ?
3 + 9 = ?
12 + 4 = ?
5 + 9 = ?
8 + 7 = ?
10 + 5 = ?
6 + 7 = ?
9 + 3 = ?
13 + 6 = ?
Activity
Matching Drawing Cards
Cut along the dotted lines to create individual drawing cards. Students will match these to the Addition Problem Cards.
Card 1: 5 Blue Circles + 7 Red Circles
(Draw 5 blue circles and 7 red circles clearly separated for counting)
Card 2: 8 Green Circles + 6 Orange Circles
(Draw 8 green circles and 6 orange circles clearly separated for counting)
Card 3: 7 Purple Circles + 6 Yellow Circles
(Draw 7 purple circles and 6 yellow circles clearly separated for counting)
Card 4: 9 Pink Circles + 4 Brown Circles
(Draw 9 pink circles and 4 brown circles clearly separated for counting)
Card 5: 6 Black Circles + 5 Grey Circles
(Draw 6 black circles and 5 grey circles clearly separated for counting)
Card 6: 10 Light Blue Circles + 3 Dark Blue Circles
(Draw 10 light blue circles and 3 dark blue circles clearly separated for counting)
Worksheet
Addition Picture Exit Ticket
Name: ______________________ Date: _________
Look at the picture below. Count the circles and write the addition problem and its sum in the space provided.
Picture: 8 Red Circles + 7 Blue Circles
(Draw 8 red circles and 7 blue circles clearly separated for counting)
My Addition Equation:
Sentence Frame (Optional Support):
I solved + by drawing ___ circles, then ____ circles, and counting them all. Altogether, I have _____ circles.
Worksheet
Self-Monitoring Checklist
Name: ______________________ Date: _________
Use this checklist to make sure you've completed all the steps for each addition problem!
For Each Problem:
-
Did I draw my picture to match the problem?
- Yes / No
-
Did I write the equation?
- Yes / No
-
Did I check my answer?
- Yes / No