How Many More Fish?

This unit focuses on comparative subtraction. The students use fish-shaped crackers to explore five meanings for the operations of subtraction (counting, sets, number line, balance, and inverse of addition). Comparative subtraction extends the students early understandings about counting, addition, and subtraction in the take-away mode. In this unit, the students investigate properties of subtraction, represent subtraction in objects and pictures, and record subtraction in both vertical notation and equations. They create and solve problems involving comparative subtraction. Students answer such questions as "How many more?" and "How many less?" Missing addend activities provide students with an experience in algebraic thinking. Data is an area that is a logical extension of this unit.

Weblink address (URL): 
How Many More Fish?

Standards & Objectives

Learning objectives: 

Learning Objectives

Students will:

  • Review the models for subtraction.
  • Practice subtraction in a variety of formats.

NCTM Standards and Expectations:

  • Count with understanding and recognize "how many" in sets of objects.
  • Develop a sense of whole numbers and represent and use them in flexible ways, including relating, composing, and decomposing numbers.
  • Develop understanding of the relative position and magnitude of whole numbers and of ordinal and cardinal numbers and their connections.
  • Use multiple models to develop initial understandings of place value and the base-ten number system
  • Understand the effects of adding and subtracting whole numbers.
  • Understand various meanings of addition and subtraction of whole numbers and the relationship between the two operations.
  • Develop and use strategies for whole-number computations, with a focus on addition and subtraction.
  • Develop fluency with basic number combinations for addition and subtraction.
  • Use a variety of methods and tools to compute, including objects, mental computation, estimation, paper and pencil, and calculators.

Lesson Variations

Blooms taxonomy level: 
Understanding

Helpful Hints

Materials:

  • Buttons  
  • Brightly colored paper  
  • Crayons  
  • Graphing tool (for Station 3)  
  • Button Bingo Grid Activity Sheet (for Station 5)

References

Contributors: 
Lea Ann Duncan
Originator: 
Ayers Institute for Learning & Innovation