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Math Buddies

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Lauren Desautels

Tier 2
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Math Buddies Lesson Plan

Students will collaborate in pairs to solve addition and subtraction puzzles, practice turn-taking, and provide peer encouragement to boost both math fluency and social-emotional growth.

This lesson reinforces foundational addition and subtraction skills while fostering teamwork, communication, and confidence in 1st graders through engaging partner activities.

Audience

1st Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Partner games and guided reflection promote math practice and SEL growth.

Materials

  • Puzzle Partners Slides, - Partner Puzzle Race, and - Sharing & Solving Problems

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

  • Print one copy of Partner Puzzle Race materials per pair.
  • Make enough copies of the Sharing & Solving Problems worksheet for each pair.
  • Open and review the Puzzle Partners Slides to familiarize yourself with instructions and timing.
  • Arrange seating or carpet spots so partners sit together and can see each other’s work.

Step 1

Warm-Up & Group Formation

5 minutes

  • Welcome students and review our group norms: listening, sharing materials, and cheering one another on.
  • Assign or let students choose partners, ensuring a supportive mix of skill levels.
  • Quick SEL check-in: ask each student to name one thing they like about math.

Step 2

Introduce Puzzle Partners

5 minutes

  • Display the Puzzle Partners Slides.
  • Explain rules: each partner takes turns solving pieces of an addition or subtraction puzzle; teammates cheer and help.
  • Model one round with a volunteer, demonstrating turn-taking and positive feedback.

Step 3

Partner Puzzle Race

10 minutes

  • Give each pair the Partner Puzzle Race game set.
  • Partners alternate solving puzzle cards, racing to complete their set first.
  • Encourage turns, reminders like “Your turn!” and supportive comments such as “Great job!”
  • Circulate, prompt with hints, and praise collaboration.

Step 4

Sharing & Solving Problems

7 minutes

  • Distribute the Sharing & Solving Problems worksheet to each pair.
  • Partners work together to solve addition and subtraction problems and write or draw their strategies.
  • Prompt them to explain their thinking to each other: “How did you solve that?”
  • Offer guidance to pairs that need a challenge or extra support.

Step 5

Debrief & SEL Reflection

3 minutes

  • Gather students in a circle or on the carpet.
  • Ask volunteers to share one math strategy they used and one way they helped their partner.
  • Highlight positive teamwork and reinforce how helping each other builds confidence in math.
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Slide Deck

Puzzle Partners

Team up to solve addition & subtraction puzzles!

Welcome students to Puzzle Partners. Briefly introduce today's activity: collaborating with partners to solve puzzles. Remind them to listen, take turns, and cheer on their buddy.

Group Norms

  • Listen when your partner has ideas
  • Share materials and take turns
  • Use positive words: “Great job!”
  • Help each other if someone gets stuck

Review each norm. Ask students for examples of how they can show these behaviors. Emphasize cheering and encouragement.

How to Play

  1. Each partner takes turns picking a puzzle card.
  2. Solve the addition or subtraction problem.
  3. Your partner cheers and can help if needed.
  4. First pair to complete all cards wins!

Explain the turn-taking process. Show a sample card and model how to solve. Point out encouragement cues like “Your turn!” and supportive comments.

Modeling Example

Partner A reads: 7 − 3 = ?
Partner B helps: “I know that 7 minus 3 equals 4.”
Partner A writes 4 and says, “Great teamwork!”
Swap turns for the next card.

Role-play this scenario with a volunteer. Demonstrate clear communication, turn-taking, and praise. Highlight using strategies to solve.

Ready for the Race?

→ Grab your Partner Puzzle Race game set now
→ Find a spot with your partner
→ Get set… Go!

Signal students to collect their game sets. Move them to open floor or table areas. Provide encouragement.

Next Up: Sharing & Solving

After the race, you'll work on the Sharing & Solving Problems worksheet:

  • Solve together
  • Draw or write your thinking
  • Explain your strategies

Give a brief preview. Tell students where worksheet copies are. Explain this will be the next step after the game.

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Game

Partner Puzzle Race Game

Overview:
In the Partner Puzzle Race, pairs of students work together to solve a deck of addition and subtraction puzzle cards. Partners take turns picking a card, solving the problem, and then passing the deck to their buddy. The first pair to correctly solve all their cards wins! This game builds math fluency, turn-taking, and teamwork.

Materials:

  • Printed and cut puzzle cards (one deck for each pair)
  • Timer or stopwatch (optional, to track fastest team)
  • Pencils or dry-erase markers
  • Clipboards or hard surfaces (optional)

Preparation:

  1. Print the Partner Puzzle Race card set on cardstock or regular paper.
  2. Cut apart each card so every problem is on its own card.
  3. Shuffle each pair’s deck and place face-down in front of them.

Instructions:

  1. Partners sit side by side with the shuffled deck between them.
  2. Partner A flips over the top card, reads the problem aloud, and solves it out loud (e.g., “5 + 3 equals 8”).
  3. If the answer is correct, the card is set in a “Solved” pile. If not, the partner may help or provide a hint before the answer is written.
  4. Partners cheer (“Great job!”) and then switch roles. Partner B takes the next turn.
  5. Continue alternating turns until all cards are in the Solved pile.
  6. The first pair to finish all their cards (or the pair with the most solved in a set time) wins!

Puzzle Cards (12 per deck):

  1. 5 + 3 = ? (Answer: 8)
  2. 2 + 6 = ? (Answer: 8)
  3. 4 + 5 = ? (Answer: 9)
  4. 7 + 2 = ? (Answer: 9)
  5. 9 − 4 = ? (Answer: 5)
  6. 8 − 3 = ? (Answer: 5)
  7. 6 − 1 = ? (Answer: 5)
  8. 10 − 6 = ? (Answer: 4)
  9. 3 + 7 = ? (Answer: 10)
  10. 5 + 4 = ? (Answer: 9)
  11. 8 − 5 = ? (Answer: 3)
  12. 9 − 2 = ? (Answer: 7)

Teacher Tips:

  • Circulate and listen for partner language: praise strong explanations and positive encouragement.
  • Offer challenge cards (e.g., double-digit addition) for pairs who finish early.
  • Use the timer to motivate students: record class best times and celebrate improvements.

Link to Materials:

  • Partner Puzzle Race
  • Puzzle Partners Slides
  • Sharing & Solving Problems
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Worksheet

Sharing & Solving Problems

Work with your partner to solve each problem. Use the space to draw or write your thinking. Then talk with your partner about your strategy and record one idea.

  1. 4 + 3 = _____Show your thinking (draw or write):






    Partner Chat: What did you notice or learn from your partner?


  2. 7 − 2 = _____Show your thinking (draw or write):






    Partner Chat: How did your partner help you solve this?


  3. 5 + 6 = _____Show your thinking (draw or write):






    Partner Chat: What strategy did you both use?


  4. 9 − 5 = _____Show your thinking (draw or write):






    Partner Chat: Did you try the same way? Why or why not?


  5. 3 + 8 = _____Show your thinking (draw or write):






    Partner Chat: What was the easiest part of this problem?


  6. 10 − 4 = _____Show your thinking (draw or write):






    Partner Chat: Did you check each other’s answers? How?


  7. 6 + 2 = _____Show your thinking (draw or write):






    Partner Chat: What did you learn from your partner’s idea?


  8. 8 − 3 = _____Show your thinking (draw or write):






    Partner Chat: How could you explain this problem to a friend?


Great teamwork!

lenny
lenny