LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Balancing Discoveries

http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L55

A lesson plan for Grades K–2 Mathematics

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

About this resource

Appropriate grades
K–2
Provider
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

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This lesson, one of a nine-part unit from Illuminations titled “Do It with Dominoes,” encourages students to explore another model of addition, the “balance” model. The exploration also involves recording the modeled addition facts in equation form. Students begin to memorize the addition facts by playing the “seven-up game.” Note that because the shapes have different values, when using the online balance, only one shape weight should be used throughout the session.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Mathematics (2004)

Grade 1

  • Goal 1: Number and Operations - The learner will read, write, and model whole numbers through 99 and compute with whole numbers.
    • Objective 1.03: Develop fluency with single-digit addition and corresponding differences using strategies such as modeling, composing and decomposing quantities, using doubles, and making tens.
    • Objective 1.04: Create, model, and solve problems that use addition, subtraction, and fair shares (between two or three).

Grade 2

  • Goal 1: Number and Operations - The learner will read, write, model, and compute with whole numbers through 999.
    • Objective 1.03: Create, model, and solve problems that involve addition, subtraction, equal grouping, and division into halves, thirds, and fourths (record in fraction form).
    • Objective 1.04: Develop fluency with multi-digit addition and subtraction through 999 using multiple strategies.
      • Strategies for adding and subtracting numbers.
      • Estimation of sums and differences in appropriate situations.
      • Relationships between operations.
    • Objective 1.05: Create and solve problems using strategies such as modeling, composing and decomposing quantities, using doubles, and making tens and hundreds.

Kindergarten

  • Goal 1: Number and Operations - The learner will recognize, model, and write whole numbers through 30.
    • Objective 1.03: Solve problems and share solutions to problems in small groups.