Browse lesson plans

Color-coded time

This lesson introduces telling time to the minute using the analog and digital clocks. The hands are color-coded to assist with hour and minute hand discrimination. The student will use the time on the digital clock, which can then be transferred to the more difficult analog clock.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2–3 Mathematics)

By Anne Clodfelter.

Math in the White House

This plan uses an online tour of the White House to reinforce the concept of tallying.

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 Mathematics)

By Bunnie R. Brewer, Missy Colborn, Kathy Hale, Kim Roberson, and Emily White.

Resources on the web

Begin with buttons: Looking back and moving forward

This Illuminations lesson is the last of an eight-part unit titled “Begin With Buttons.” In this lesson, students review the work of the previous lessons through a variety of activity stations, one of which involves using an interactive website.... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Counting back

This lesson, one of a six-part unit from Illuminations titled “How Many More Fish?,” students count to compare plates of fish-shaped crackers then record the comparison in vertical and horizontal format. They apply their skills of reasoning... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Counting back and counting on

In this lesson, the first of a seven-part unit from Illuminations, students model subtraction with connecting cubes while the teacher reads to them from counting books. Then students make a train of connecting cubes and write in vertical and horizontal... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Counting back and counting on

This lesson, one of a six-part unit from Illuminations titled “Links Away,” focuses on the counting model for subtraction. Students model numbers as a counting book is read. They then make a chain of links and write in vertical and horizontal... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Counting to find sums

This lesson, one of a six-part unit from Illuminations titled “Do it with Dominoes,” focuses on the “counting” model for addition and begins with reading a counting book. Students model the numbers with counters as the book is read.... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Lost buttons

Students investigate subtraction more directly, beginning with the easier “take away” mode. They model “take away” subtraction with buttons and write subtraction sentences. Illuminations provides helpful handouts and detailed instructions... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Mixing In Math

This site offers 40 activities that can be used to teach and practice math skills during everyday routines. Activities are designed for use in after school programs, daily school routines, and at home for kids ages 5-13. (Learn more)

Format: website/lesson plan

Provided by: TERC

More and more buttons

This Illuminations lesson is the fourth of an eight-part unit titled &dlquo;Begin With Buttons.” In this lesson, students use buttons to create, model, and record addition sentences. They also explore commutativity in addition contexts. This... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Numbers many ways

This Illuminations lesson is the fifth of an eight-part unit titled “Begin With Buttons.” In this lesson, students work with subtraction at the intuitive level as they explore number families and ways to decompose numbers to 10. They will also... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Shirts full of buttons

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?”... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations