Warm-Up: My Math Mood Check-in

Instructions: When I say 'Go!', show me how you feel about math today using your thumb.

• Thumbs Up: I feel great and ready for math!
• Thumbs Sideways: I feel okay about math, maybe a little bit nervous.
• Thumbs Down: I feel nervous or worried about math today.

Go!

(Teacher Note: After students show their thumbs, acknowledge all feelings. Briefly discuss that it's okay to feel nervous, and we'll learn ways to help. Do not dwell on negative feelings, but validate them.)

Activity: Number Ninja Challenge

Welcome, Number Ninjas! Today, we are going to practice our math moves and show how strong our brains are!

Instructions:

1. Look at each math problem below.
2. Use your brain power, fingers, or a number line to find the answer.
3. Write your answer in the space provided.
4. Remember, if you feel a little nervous, use one of your Math Calm-Down Cards strategies!

Addition Missions:

1. 5 + 3 =
   
   
   
2. 7 + 2 =
   
   
   
3. 4 + 6 =
   
   
   
4. 8 + 5 =
   
   
   
5. 9 + 4 =
   
   
   

Subtraction Missions:

6. 10 - 4 =
   
   
   
7. 9 - 3 =
   
   
   
8. 12 - 7 =
   
   
   
9. 15 - 6 =
   
   
   
10. 11 - 5 =
    
    
    

Great job, Number Ninjas! You are doing amazing!

Game: Solve & Smile Bingo!

Get ready to play Solve & Smile Bingo! This is a fun game to practice our math facts. Every time you get an answer right, you get closer to Bingo!

Materials Needed:

• Solve & Smile Bingo Cards (teacher will provide)
• Markers or small objects to cover your numbers

How to Play:

1. Each student gets a Bingo card with numbers (answers to math problems) on it.
2. The teacher will call out a math problem (e.g., "What is 6 + 7?").
3. Solve the problem in your head or on a scratch paper.
4. If the answer is on your Bingo card, cover that number with your marker.
5. The first student to get 5 in a row (across, down, or diagonally) shouts "BINGO!"
6. We will check your answers. If they are all correct, you win!

Example Bingo Card Numbers (Teacher Prep - populate with a mix of possible answers from basic addition/subtraction within 20):

Teacher Calls (Examples - create a list of ~20-25 problems whose answers are on the bingo cards):

• What is 5 + 4?
• What is 10 - 3?
• What is 6 + 6?
• What is 15 - 2?
• What is 7 + 1?
• What is 12 - 5?
• What is 8 + 3?
• What is 11 - 0?
• What is 9 + 2?
• What is 18 - 9?
• What is 4 + 7?
• What is 16 - 7?
• What is 5 + 5?
• What is 13 - 6?
• What is 8 + 2?
• What is 10 - 2?
• What is 11 + 3?
• What is 17 - 4?
• What is 6 + 5?
• What is 14 - 8?

Remember to smile and have fun!

Script: Math Fearless Figures

(Teacher): "Hi everyone! Welcome! Today we're going to talk about something super important: how we feel about math. Sometimes, math can make us feel a little bit nervous or even a little scared. Has anyone ever felt that way? It's totally okay if you have!"

Warm-Up: My Math Mood Check-in (5 minutes)

(Teacher): "Let's do a quick check-in. When I say 'Go!', I want you to show me with your thumb how you feel about math today.

• Thumbs Up if you feel great and ready for math!
  
• Thumbs Sideways if you feel okay, maybe a little bit nervous.
  
• Thumbs Down if you feel nervous or worried about math today.
  

Ready? Go!"

(Pause for students to show thumbs. Acknowledge their feelings.)

(Teacher): "Thank you for sharing! I see some different feelings, and that's perfectly normal. Today, we're going to learn some secret tools to help our brains feel calm and strong when we're doing math, especially if it feels tricky. You're all incredibly smart, and these tools will help you show it!"

Introduce Calm-Down Strategies (5 minutes)

(Teacher): "Sometimes, when our brains feel a little worried, it's hard to focus. But we have some powerful tricks up our sleeves! I've made some special Math Calm-Down Cards that have ideas for how to help ourselves feel calm. Let's look at a couple of them together."

(Show the Math Calm-Down Cards. Pick 1-2 strategies to demonstrate, e.g., deep breaths.)

(Teacher): "One great way to calm our bodies is with deep breaths. Let's try it: Breathe in slowly through your nose, like you're smelling a yummy cookie... (inhale)... and then slowly blow out through your mouth, like you're cooling that cookie down! (exhale). Let's do two more together. Good job! How did that feel?"

(Allow a few students to share.)

(Teacher): "Another quick trick is to slowly count to 5 in your head. Or, you can squeeze your hands tight, and then relax them. We can use these anytime math feels a bit tough, even during a test or an activity. They are your secret superhero tools!"

Activity: Number Ninja Challenge (10 minutes)

(Teacher): "Now that we have some calm-down tools, it's time for our Activity: Number Ninja Challenge! You are all going to be Number Ninjas, practicing your amazing math moves with addition and subtraction. Remember, it's a friendly challenge to make our brains stronger, not to stress us out. If you feel that worried feeling, remember your calm-down tools."

(Distribute the Activity: Number Ninja Challenge. Circulate and provide support. Remind students of calm-down strategies if needed.)

(Teacher): "Great work, Number Ninjas! You are doing amazing!"

Game: Solve & Smile Bingo (10 minutes)

(Teacher): "Who's ready for some fun? We're going to play Game: Solve & Smile Bingo! This is another way to practice our math facts and celebrate how much you know. Listen carefully as I call out the problems, find the answer, and cover the number on your card. Remember, the goal is to have fun and try your best!"

(Explain Bingo rules, distribute cards, and begin calling out problems from the Game: Solve & Smile Bingo material.)

(Teacher): "Excellent job, everyone! You all worked so hard and used your amazing math brains today. Remember, you are all Math Superheroes, and you have those awesome calm-down tools to help you whenever you need them. I'm so proud of you!"

Math Calm-Down Cards

Sometimes, when math feels tricky, our brains and bodies can feel a little nervous. These cards have secret superhero tools to help you feel calm and ready to learn!

Instructions: Cut out these cards. When you feel nervous about math, pick one and try the strategy!

Card 1: Deep Breaths

• Breathe in slowly through your nose (like smelling a flower).
• Breathe out slowly through your mouth (like blowing out a candle).
• Do this 3 times.

Card 2: Count to 5

• Slowly count from 1 to 5 in your head.
• Feel your body getting calmer with each number.

Card 3: Squeeze & Relax

• Squeeze your hands into tight fists for 3 seconds.
• Then, let them go loose and floppy.
• Do this 2 times.

Card 4: Wiggle It Out

• Wiggle your fingers and toes.
• Gently stretch your arms up high.
• Shake out any wiggly feelings!

Card 5: Positive Power Thought

• Think: "I am smart!"
• Think: "I can try my best!"
• Think: "Mistakes help me learn!"

You've got this, Math Superhero!

Answer Key: Number Ninja Challenge

Here are the answers and steps for the Number Ninja Challenge activity. Remember to look at how you got your answer!

Addition Missions:

1. 5 + 3 = 8

   • Thought Process: Start at 5, count up 3 more (6, 7, 8).

2. 7 + 2 = 9

   • Thought Process: Start at 7, count up 2 more (8, 9).

3. 4 + 6 = 10

   • Thought Process: Start at 6, count up 4 more (7, 8, 9, 10). Or, you might know that 4 + 6 is a way to make 10.

4. 8 + 5 = 13

   • Thought Process: Start at 8, count up 5 more (9, 10, 11, 12, 13).

5. 9 + 4 = 13

   • Thought Process: Start at 9, count up 4 more (10, 11, 12, 13).

Subtraction Missions:

6. 10 - 4 = 6

   • Thought Process: Start at 10, count back 4 (9, 8, 7, 6). Or, think: what plus 4 equals 10?

7. 9 - 3 = 6

   • Thought Process: Start at 9, count back 3 (8, 7, 6). Or, think: what plus 3 equals 9?

8. 12 - 7 = 5

   • Thought Process: Start at 12, count back 7 (11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5). Or, think: 7 plus what equals 12?

9. 15 - 6 = 9

   • Thought Process: Start at 15, count back 6 (14, 13, 12, 11, 10, 9). Or, think: 6 plus what equals 15?

10. 11 - 5 = 6

    • Thought Process: Start at 11, count back 5 (10, 9, 8, 7, 6). Or, think: 5 plus what equals 11?

Good job checking your work! Keep practicing your Number Ninja moves!