Lesson Plan
Adding Up Repeatedly
Students will be able to understand and practice repeat addition as a foundational step towards multiplication, using visual and hands-on methods.
Understanding repeat addition helps students build a strong foundation for multiplication, problem-solving, and real-world math applications like calculating total items or money.
Audience
Autistic Middle School Students
Time
20 minutes
Approach
Visual, hands-on, and repetitive practice.
Materials
Whiteboard or Projector, Markers or Pens, Warm Up: Count the Groups, Activity: Build & Add, Counting Manipulatives (e.g., blocks, counters, LEGOs), Worksheet: Repeat Addition Practice, and Script: Adding Up Repeatedly
Prep
Gather Materials & Review
10 minutes
- Review the Slide Deck: Adding Up Repeatedly for the lesson.
- Gather counting manipulatives (e.g., blocks, counters, LEGOs).
- Print copies of the Worksheet: Repeat Addition Practice.
- Ensure whiteboard or projector is ready.
- Review the Script: Adding Up Repeatedly to familiarize yourself with the talking points and instructions.
- Review the Warm Up: Count the Groups and Activity: Build & Add instructions.
Step 1
Warm Up: Count the Groups
5 minutes
- Begin with the Warm Up: Count the Groups.
- Use the first few slides of the Slide Deck: Adding Up Repeatedly to guide the warm-up.
- Follow the prompts in the Script: Adding Up Repeatedly to engage students in identifying groups and counting items within them.
- Emphasize the concept of 'groups of' and 'how many in total'.
Step 2
Introduction to Repeat Addition
5 minutes
- Transition to the concept of repeat addition using the Slide Deck: Adding Up Repeatedly.
- Explain that repeat addition is adding the same number over and over.
- Provide clear examples, linking them back to the warm-up activity.
- Use the Script: Adding Up Repeatedly for detailed explanations and questioning.
Step 3
Activity: Build & Add
7 minutes
- Distribute counting manipulatives to each student or group.
- Introduce the Activity: Build & Add.
- Guide students through examples of building groups of items and then adding them repeatedly.
- Encourage students to verbalize their addition process.
- Refer to the Script: Adding Up Repeatedly for guiding questions and support.
Step 4
Worksheet Practice & Cool Down
3 minutes
- Distribute the Worksheet: Repeat Addition Practice.
- Have students complete the first one or two problems independently or with guidance.
- Use this as an opportunity to assess understanding.
- Conclude the lesson by briefly recapping repeat addition and its connection to groups, as prompted in the Script: Adding Up Repeatedly. This also serves as a quick cool down.
Slide Deck
Welcome! Let's Count!
Today, we're going to explore something super useful: counting things in groups!
It's like when you have a box of crayons, or a pack of juice boxes. We'll learn how to quickly find out how many there are in total!
Welcome students and introduce the concept of 'groups'. Explain that today we'll be counting groups.
What Do You See?
Look at the pictures!
How many groups are there?
How many items are in each group?
How many altogether?
Present the first example. Ask students to identify the number of groups and how many items are in each group. Guide them to count each item individually first, then introduce the idea of adding the number in each group.
Repeat After Me: Repeat Addition!
Repeat addition is when you add the same number over and over again!
It helps us count groups faster.
Example: 🍎🍎 🍎🍎 🍎🍎
2 + 2 + 2 = 6
Show a visual example like 3 groups of 2 apples. Ask: How many groups of apples? (3). How many apples in each group? (2). Then lead them to: 2 + 2 + 2 = 6. Emphasize that adding the same number multiple times is 'repeat addition'.
Let's Try Another One!
🌟🌟🌟 🌟🌟🌟 🌟🌟🌟 🌟🌟🌟
How many groups of stars?
How many stars are in each group?
Write the repeat addition sentence!
Provide another visual example. For instance, 4 groups of 3 stars. Ask students to identify the groups and the number in each group. Guide them to write the repeat addition sentence.
Time to Build & Add!
Now it's YOUR turn!
We are going to use our manipulatives to build groups and practice repeat addition.
Follow the instructions on your Activity: Build & Add sheet!
Introduce the hands-on activity. Explain that they will use manipulatives to build and add. Provide clear instructions for Activity: Build & Add.
Practice Makes Perfect!
You've done a great job building!
Now, let's practice our repeat addition skills on a worksheet.
Remember to think about the groups and how many are in each group.
If you need help, just ask!
Explain that they will now practice what they learned on a worksheet. Emphasize that it's okay to ask for help and to use their manipulatives if needed. Introduce the Worksheet: Repeat Addition Practice.
Great Job, Everyone!
Today, we learned about repeat addition!
It's a super way to count groups of the same number quickly.
You all worked hard and did an amazing job!
Keep practicing!
Conclude the lesson. Briefly recap what repeat addition is and how it helps us count groups. Give positive reinforcement.
Warm Up
Warm Up: Count the Groups
Objective: To activate prior knowledge of counting and introduce the concept of groups.
Instructions:
-
Look at the Screen! (Refer to Slide Deck: Adding Up Repeatedly - Slide 2)
- I will show you some pictures with groups of items.
- Your job is to tell me:
- How many groups do you see?
- How many items are in each group?
- How many altogether?
-
Let's Try It!
- (Teacher guides students through the examples on Slide Deck: Adding Up Repeatedly - Slides 2 and 4, prompting responses.)
-
Think Together:
- What did you notice about how we counted the total number of items?
- Did we count each one individually, or did we see patterns?
Activity
Activity: Build & Add
Objective: Students will use manipulatives to physically represent and solve repeat addition problems.
Materials: Counting Manipulatives (e.g., blocks, counters, LEGOs)
Instructions:
-
Get Your Manipulatives Ready!
- Each student or pair will get a set of counting manipulatives.
-
Teacher Says, You Build! (Refer to Slide Deck: Adding Up Repeatedly - Slide 5)
- I will give you a repeat addition problem, like "3 groups of 4" or "2 + 2 + 2 + 2".
- Your task is to build the groups using your manipulatives.
- For example, if I say "3 groups of 4", you would make three separate piles of 4 blocks each.
-
Count and Add!
- Once you have built your groups, count how many items are in each group.
- Then, write or say the repeat addition sentence.
- Finally, count all the manipulatives to find the total!
- For "3 groups of 4", you would say/write "4 + 4 + 4 = 12".
-
Let's Practice!
- We will do a few together, then you can try on your own or with a partner.
- Teacher prompts with examples such as:
- "Make 2 groups of 5." (Students build 5+5)
- "Show me 3 groups of 3." (Students build 3+3+3)
- "Build 4 groups of 2." (Students build 2+2+2+2)
- (Circulate and provide support as students build and verbalize their addition sentences.)
Worksheet
Worksheet: Repeat Addition Practice
Name: _________________________
Date: __________________________
Instructions: Look at the groups of objects. Write the repeat addition sentence and find the total.
Problem 1
🍪🍪 🍪🍪 🍪🍪
How many groups of cookies? _______
How many cookies in each group? _______
Repeat Addition Sentence: ___________________________
Total: _______
Problem 2
🚗🚗🚗 🚗🚗🚗
How many groups of cars? _______
How many cars in each group? _______
Repeat Addition Sentence: ___________________________
Total: _______
Problem 3
🎈🎈🎈🎈 🎈🎈🎈🎈 🎈🎈🎈🎈 🎈🎈🎈🎈
How many groups of balloons? _______
How many balloons in each group? _______
Repeat Addition Sentence: ___________________________
Total: _______
Problem 4
Write your own repeat addition sentence for 3 groups of 5 stars. Then solve it!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Repeat Addition Sentence: ___________________________
Total: _______
Script
Script: Adding Up Repeatedly
I. Warm Up: Count the Groups (5 minutes)
(Display Slide Deck: Adding Up Repeatedly - Slide 1: "Welcome! Let's Count!")
Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going to explore something super useful: counting things in groups! It's like when you have a box of crayons, or a pack of juice boxes. We'll learn how to quickly find out how many there are in total!"
(Transition to Slide Deck: Adding Up Repeatedly - Slide 2: "What Do You See?")
Teacher: "Look at the pictures on the screen! I want you to tell me a few things about what you see."
- "First, how many groups do you see? For example, how many separate piles or sets are there?"
- (Pause for student response. Guide them to identify the groups.)
- "Great! Now, how many items are in each of those groups? Let's count them together in one group."
- (Pause for student response. Confirm the number in each group.)
- "Excellent! Now, if we count ALL the items, one by one, how many are there altogether?"
- (Pause for student response. Confirm the total.)
(Transition to Slide Deck: Adding Up Repeatedly - Slide 4: "Let's Try Another One!")
Teacher: "Let's try another one. Look at the stars!"
- "How many groups of stars do you see?"
- (Pause for student response.)
- "How many stars are in each group?"
- (Pause for student response.)
- "How many are there altogether?"
- (Pause for student response. Guide them to count.)
II. Introduction to Repeat Addition (5 minutes)
(Transition to Slide Deck: Adding Up Repeatedly - Slide 3: "Repeat After Me: Repeat Addition!")
Teacher: "You did a fantastic job counting those groups! Today, we're going to learn a special way to count when we have groups with the same number of items. It's called repeat addition."
"Repeat addition is when you add the same number over and over again. It helps us count groups faster!"
"Look at the apple example on the slide: We have groups of 2 apples. So, we can say 2 + 2 + 2 = 6. We added the number 2, three times."
"Let's go back to our star example from the warm-up. We had 4 groups of 3 stars. How would we write that as a repeat addition sentence?"
- (Guide students to say/write 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12.)
III. Activity: Build & Add (7 minutes)
(Transition to Slide Deck: Adding Up Repeatedly - Slide 5: "Time to Build & Add!")
Teacher: "Now it's YOUR turn! We are going to use our counting manipulatives to build groups and practice repeat addition. Each of you will get a set of manipulatives."
"Look at your Activity: Build & Add sheet. I will give you a problem, and you will build the groups with your manipulatives. Then, we'll write or say the repeat addition sentence and find the total."
"Let's try one together: Make 2 groups of 5."
- (Circulate and help students build two piles of five manipulatives. Then prompt them to state the addition sentence.)
Teacher: "What is the repeat addition sentence for 2 groups of 5? (5 + 5 = 10)"
"Great! Now try this: Show me 3 groups of 3."
- (Circulate and assist. Prompt for the addition sentence.)
Teacher: "What is the repeat addition sentence for 3 groups of 3? (3 + 3 + 3 = 9)"
"Excellent! Continue practicing with a partner or independently with a few more examples like 4 groups of 2 (2+2+2+2=8) or 2 groups of 6 (6+6=12). I will walk around and help if you need it."
- (Monitor students and provide individualized support as they work on the Activity: Build & Add.)
IV. Worksheet Practice & Cool Down (3 minutes)
(Transition to Slide Deck: Adding Up Repeatedly - Slide 6: "Practice Makes Perfect!")
Teacher: "You've done a great job building and adding! Now, let's practice our repeat addition skills on a worksheet. I'm handing out the Worksheet: Repeat Addition Practice."
"Remember to look at the groups and how many are in each group. Write your repeat addition sentence and find the total. You can use your manipulatives if they help you!"
- (Guide students to complete the first problem or two on the worksheet. Circulate to check for understanding and provide assistance.)
(Transition to Slide Deck: Adding Up Repeatedly - Slide 7: "Great Job, Everyone!")
Teacher: "Fantastic work today, everyone! Today, we learned about repeat addition – adding the same number over and over again. It's a super way to count groups of the same number quickly."
"You all worked hard and did an amazing job understanding this important math concept! Keep practicing, and you'll be repeat addition experts in no time!"
- (Collect worksheets or assign them for homework if not completed.)