Browse lesson plans

Candy math

Unit on reviewing Math skills. The unit will take 20 minutes per day for 6 days. A good activity for late spring.

Format: lesson plan (grade K–1 Mathematics)

By Tammy Sharpe.

Let's trade (regrouping to subtract)

This word (trade) will introduce regrouping to subtract by allowing students to "trade" manipulatives to regroup.

Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 Mathematics)

By Sarah Cole.

Making change to $1.00.

In this lesson students will work in small groups making change to $1.00 using coins and pictures of items priced from Sunday fliers. In advance the teacher will cut out pictures of items costing less than $1.00.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2 Mathematics)

By Julie Hohns.

Subtraction sticks

Using craft sticks, students will practice subtraction of 2 and 3 digit numbers with renaming.

Format: lesson plan (grade 2–3 Mathematics)

By Susan Fry.

Resources on the web

Balancing

In this lesson, the fourth of a six-part unit from Illuminations, students are encouraged to explore another model of subtraction—the balance. This model leads naturally to recording with equations. Students use actual and virtual pan balances in... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Balancing equations

This lesson, one of a six-part unit from Illuminations titled “How Many More Fish?,” encourages students to explore another meaning for operations of subtraction, the balance. This meaning leads naturally to recording with equations. The students... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

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

Block pounds

In this lesson from Illuminations, students explore the use of variables as unknowns as they solve for the weights of objects using information presented in pictures. They also model situations that involve the addition and subtraction of whole numbers,... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Comparing connecting cubes: Looking back and moving forward

This lesson, the last of a six-lesson unit from Illuminations, reviews the work of the previous lessons and suggests a framework for summative assessment. Students use the mathematical knowledge and skills developed in the previous lessons to demonstrate... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Comparing sets

In this lesson, the second of a six-part unit from Illuminations, a children's book sets the stage for encouraging students to review counting back. Students write subtraction problems and model them with cubes. They then compare sets and record differences... (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

Fact families

In this lesson, the fifth of a six-part unit from Illuminations, students use books and connecting cubes to explore the relationship of addition to subtraction. Students search for related addition and subtraction facts for a given number using a virtual... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Fact family fun

In this lesson, one of a six-part unit from Illuminations titled “How Many More Fish?,” the relation of addition to subtraction is explored with fish-shaped crackers. The students search for related addition and subtraction facts for a given... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Finding fact families

In this lesson, one of a seven-part unit from Illuminations titled “Links Away,” students explore the relation of addition to subtraction. Then the children search for related addition and subtraction facts for a given number. They also investigate... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Finding fact families

In this lesson, one of a six-part unit from Illuminations titled “Do It with Dominoes,” the relationship of subtraction to addition is introduced with a book and with dominoes. Then the children explore the concept of missing addends. They also... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Finding the balance

In this lesson, one of a seven-part unit from Illuminations titled “Links Away,” students explore another model of subtraction, the balance. Students also explore recording the modeled subtraction facts and the related addition facts in equation... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade K–2 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Food pyramid power: Looking back and moving forward

In this lesson, the last of a six-part unit from Illuminations titled “Food Pyramid Power,” students display their knowledge of properties of objects for sorting and creating patterns. They also demonstrate an understanding of commutativity... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations

Hopping backward on the number line

In this lesson, one of a seven-part unit from Illuminations titled “Links Away,” students generate differences using the number line model. Because this model highlights the measurement aspect of subtraction, it is a distinctly different representation... (Learn more)

Format: lesson plan (grade 1–2 Mathematics)

Provided by: Illuminations