Number Stories Around Us

Lauren Forsythe

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Number Stories Around Us Lesson Plan

Students will be able to create and solve simple addition and subtraction number stories using familiar classroom objects and situations.

Connecting math to real-life situations helps ELLs understand abstract concepts by grounding them in concrete experiences. This lesson builds language and math skills simultaneously, boosting confidence and engagement.

Audience

1st Grade ELLs

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Hands-on activity, visual aids, and scaffolded language support.

Materials

Whiteboard or projector, Markers or pens, Classroom objects (e.g., pencils, books, crayons), Number Story Cards (linked to Number Story Cards), Worksheet: My Number Stories (linked to My Number Stories Worksheet), Script: Number Stories Around Us (linked to Number Stories Around Us Script), and Slide Deck: Number Stories Around Us (linked to Number Stories Around Us Slide Deck)

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Review the Number Stories Around Us Lesson Plan and all linked materials: Number Stories Around Us Slide Deck, Number Stories Around Us Script, Number Story Cards, and My Number Stories Worksheet.
- Gather a variety of easily countable classroom objects (e.g., 5 pencils, 3 erasers, 7 crayons).
- Print and cut out the Number Story Cards.
- Print copies of the My Number Stories Worksheet for each student.

Step 1

Warm-up: Count and See

5 minutes

Use Slide 1: Warm Up of the Number Stories Around Us Slide Deck.
- Ask students to identify and count visible classroom objects. (e.g., "How many chairs do you see?" "How many windows?")
- Encourage students to use full sentences or point and say the number.

Step 2

Introduce Number Stories

7 minutes

Use Slide 2: What is a Number Story? and Slide 3: Our Classroom Story of the Number Stories Around Us Slide Deck.
- Explain that a number story is like a small math puzzle with words.
- Model creating a simple number story using classroom objects (e.g., "I have 3 blue pens and 2 red pens. How many pens do I have?"). Use gestures and visuals.
- Write the number sentence on the board (3 + 2 = 5).

Step 3

Guided Practice: Card Stories

8 minutes

Use Slide 4: Let's Make Stories! of the Number Stories Around Us Slide Deck.
- Distribute Number Story Cards to pairs or small groups.
- Guide students to choose a card, identify the objects, and work together to create a simple number story (addition or subtraction).
- Circulate and provide sentence frames or vocabulary support as needed (e.g., "___ has ___ and ___ more. How many in all?").
- Have a few groups share their stories and solutions with the class, writing the number sentences on the board.

Step 4

Independent Practice: My Number Stories

7 minutes

Use Slide 5: Your Turn! of the Number Stories Around Us Slide Deck.
- Distribute the My Number Stories Worksheet.
- Students will draw or write their own number stories and solve them.
- Remind them to use objects they see in the classroom or things they like.
- Provide individual support and encouragement, especially for writing the number sentences.

Step 5

Wrap-up: Share and Reflect

3 minutes

Use Slide 6: Great Work! of the Number Stories Around Us Slide Deck.
- Ask 1-2 students to share their completed number stories from the My Number Stories Worksheet.
- Briefly review what a number story is and why it's useful (e.g., "Math is all around us!").

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Slide Deck

Welcome! Let's Count!

Look around our classroom.
What do you see? Can you count them?

Welcome students and begin with a quick warm-up. Ask students to look around the classroom and silently count how many of something they see, for example, 'How many blue books do you see?'. Then, call on a few students to share their counts. Encourage them to use full sentences if possible, or support them in doing so. Point to the objects as they count.

What is a Number Story?

A story with numbers!
Like a math puzzle with words.
Math is all around us!

Introduce the concept of a 'number story.' Explain that it's like a small story, but with numbers hidden inside! Use simple language and gestures. Ask students if they like stories. Explain that today, we'll be making our own math stories. Emphasize that math is all around us, even in our classroom.

Our Classroom Story

I see 3 red books.
I see 2 blue books.
How many books do I see in total?

3 + 2 = 5

Model creating a simple number story using visible classroom objects. For instance, 'I have 3 pencils on my desk, and my friend gives me 2 more pencils. How many pencils do I have now?' Draw or show the objects. Write the number sentence (3 + 2 = 5) on the board. Emphasize keywords like 'and' for addition and 'take away' for subtraction.

Let's Make Stories!

Work with a friend.
Choose a Number Story Card.
Make your own number story!
Write the math problem.

Explain that students will now work in pairs or small groups. Hand out the Number Story Cards. Each group will choose a card and create their own number story using the objects shown. Provide sentence starters on the board like 'There are ____ and ____ more. How many in all?' or 'There are ____. Then ____ go away. How many are left?' Circulate and offer support, especially with vocabulary and sentence structure.

Your Turn: My Stories

Draw your own number story.
Write the math problem.
Use your My Number Stories Worksheet!

Introduce the My Number Stories Worksheet. Explain that it's their turn to create their own number stories individually. They can draw pictures or write words, and then write the matching number sentence. Remind them to think about things they see at home, at school, or things they like. Give examples if needed, like 'I have 4 apples and eat 1. How many are left?'

Great Work! Share Your Stories!

Who wants to share their number story?
Math is all around us!

Ask a few students to share their number stories from the worksheet. Celebrate their creativity and their math skills! Briefly recap what a number story is and how math is part of our everyday lives. Praise their effort in both math and language.

Script

Number Stories Around Us Script

Warm-up: Count and See (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Let's get our brains ready for math. Look around our classroom. What do you see? Can you count them?"

(Pause for students to observe. Point to various objects.)

Teacher: "How many chairs do you see at your table? Show me with your fingers. Great!"

(Call on a few students. For ELLs, accept pointing or one-word answers, then model the full sentence.)

Teacher: "[Student Name], how many windows do you see?"

Student: "Two!"

Teacher: "Yes! [Student Name] sees two windows. Very good counting!"

Introduce Number Stories (7 minutes)

Teacher: (Transition to Slide 2: What is a Number Story?)
"Today, we are going to be detectives of math stories! Has anyone heard of a story? A story has characters, and things that happen. Well, a number story is like a small math puzzle, but with words! Math is everywhere, even in our classroom."

(Use gestures to indicate a story and puzzle.)

Teacher: "Look at Slide 3: Our Classroom Story. I have three red books and two blue books on my shelf. I want to know, how many books do I have in total? Let's count them together! One, two, three red books. And one, two blue books. Three plus two equals five! So, I have five books. The number sentence is 3 + 2 = 5."

(Write the number sentence on the board.)

Teacher: "See? That was a number story about my books! It told us something, and then it asked a math question."

Guided Practice: Card Stories (8 minutes)

Teacher: (Transition to Slide 4: Let's Make Stories!)
"Now, it's your turn to make some number stories! I'm going to give each pair of students a Number Story Card. These cards have pictures to help you make your own story. Work with your partner. Look at the pictures, talk about them, and then create a number story together."

(Distribute Number Story Cards. Circulate and provide support.)

Teacher: (For ELLs, offer sentence frames like:)

"There are ____ (object) and ____ more (object). How many in all?"
"There are ____ (object). Then ____ (object) go away. How many are left?"

Teacher: "When you have your story, think about the math problem. What is the number sentence?"

(After a few minutes, bring the class back together.)

Teacher: "Who would like to share their number story? [Student Name] and [Student Name], what story did you make?"

(As students share, write their number sentences on the board. Encourage them to use vocabulary like 'add,' 'take away,' 'total,' 'left.')

Independent Practice: My Number Stories (7 minutes)

Teacher: (Transition to Slide 5: Your Turn!)
"You are doing such a great job with number stories! Now, you get to be the author and the mathematician all by yourself! I'm giving you a My Number Stories Worksheet. On this paper, you will draw your own number story and write the math problem."

(Distribute My Number Stories Worksheet.)

Teacher: "You can draw things you see in our classroom, or things you like from home. For example, maybe you have 4 toys and get 2 more! Or you have 5 cookies and eat 1! Draw your picture, write your story using words, and then write the number sentence to solve it."

(Circulate, provide individual support, and help with writing number sentences. For ELLs, encourage drawing as their primary way of expressing the story, and provide word banks or help with simple sentences.)

Wrap-up: Share and Reflect (3 minutes)

Teacher: (Transition to Slide 6: Great Work!)
"Time to wrap up! Who would like to share one of their fantastic number stories from their worksheet? [Student Name], what did you create?"

(Call on 1-2 students to share. Briefly praise their work.)

Teacher: "Excellent work today, everyone! You learned how to find and make number stories all around you. Remember, math is everywhere, and you are all amazing math storytellers! Give yourselves a pat on the back!"