Shirts Full of Buttons
http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L32
A lesson plan for grades K–2 Mathematics
This lesson is one of an 8-part unit from Illuminations titled “Shirts Full of Buttons.” In this lesson students explore subtraction in the comparative mode by answering questions such as “How many more?” and “How many less?” as they match sets of buttons. They also make and discuss bar graphs based on the number of buttons they are wearing.
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 1.01: Develop number sense for whole numbers through 99.
- Connect the model, number word, and number using a variety of representations.
- Use efficient strategies to count the number of objects in a set.
- Read and write numbers.
- Compare and order sets and numbers.
- Build understanding of place value (ones, tens).
- Estimate quantities fewer than or equal to 100.
- Recognize equivalence in sets and numbers 1-99.
- Objective 1.02: Use groupings of 2's, 5's, and 10's with models and pictures to count collections of objects.
- 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 1.01: Develop number sense for whole numbers through 99.
- Goal 4: Data Analysis and Probability - The learner will understand and use data and simple probability concepts.
- Objective 4.01: Collect, organize, describe and display data using line plots and tallies.
Grade 2
- Goal 1: Number and Operations - The learner will read, write, model, and compute with whole numbers through 999.
- Objective 1.01: Develop number sense for whole numbers through 999.
- Connect model, number word, and number using a variety of representations.
- Read and write numbers.
- Compare and order.
- Rename.
- Estimate.
- Use a variety of models to build understanding of place value (ones, tens, hundreds).
- Objective 1.01: Develop number sense for whole numbers through 999.
- Goal 4: Data Analysis and Probability - The learner will understand and use data and simple probability concepts.
- Objective 4.01: Collect, organize, describe and display data using Venn diagrams (three sets) and pictographs where symbols represent multiple units (2's, 5's, 10's).
Kindergarten
- Goal 1: Number and Operations - The learner will recognize, model, and write whole numbers through 30.
- Objective 1.01: Develop number sense for whole numbers through 30.
- Connect model, number word (orally), and number, using a variety of representations.
- Count objects in a set.
- Read and write numerals.
- Compare and order sets and numbers.
- Use ordinals (1st-10th).
- Estimate quantities fewer than or equal to 10.
- Recognize equivalence in sets and numbers 1-10.
- Objective 1.01: Develop number sense for whole numbers through 30.
- Goal 4: Data Analysis and Probability - The learner will collect, organize and display data.
- Objective 4.01: Collect and organize data as a group activity.
- Objective 4.02: Display and describe data with concrete and pictorial graphs as a group activity.



