Teachers asked and we answered! Thanks to the raving popularity of our 2nd grade Lucky to Learn Math Currculum, Team Lucky Little Learners now has a full year math curriculum for first grade too! We've got our first grade teachers covered with standards-based, engaging and easy to teach lessons! If you're new to Lucky to Learn Math and want to see what a typical lesson looks like, read on for an exclusive sneak peek.
The lesson featured in this post is the first lesson of Unit 2: Adding in Natural Habitats.
Habitat Spotlight: My Neighborhood
Each Lucky to Learn Math lesson has the following six components. Click to jump to that part of the lesson, or read through from beginning to end.
- Math Chat
- Mini-Lesson
- Hands-On Collaboration
- Independent Practice
- Check for Understanding
- Bonus: Differentiation Resources
Lesson Plan
Lesson Objective:
Understand and write number sentences to show addition.
Materials Needed:
- Lesson 2.1 Teaching Slides
- Lesson 2.1 Copies
- Connecting Cubes
- Dry-Erase Supplies (optional)
1. Math Chat
Math chats, also called number talks, are an important part of any math curriculum. These chats get students thinking about numbers by explaining their thinking and exploring the ‘why and how of math' rather than just memorizing facts. For this particular lesson, students are using clues to determine the mystery number.
Follow these steps:
- Show students the Mystery Number Slide (included in the lesson 2.1 teaching slides)
- Read the clues out loud. (Each clue eliminates a number option.)
- Give students silent thinking time to figure out which house the pet belongs to and then discuss as a class.
**It is important to write and talk through the incorrect answers as well. Research has proven that students have gained huge math brain development by analyzing errors!
2. Mini-Lesson
Now it is time to move on to the whole group lesson. By this time students should be in math mode and ready to focus.
- Introduce addition to students by first reviewing what they already know about it. (Discuss how the word “and” means to combine, join, or add.)
- Work through a few picture problems together, modeling how to count, how to add, and how to write an addition sentence.
- Give students each 40 connecting cubes, 20 in one color and 20 in another color. (Tip: Allow 5 minutes to explore and play with the cubes but when the timer is up, they must use them for adding and not playing.)
- Walk through the teaching slides with students, having them build one addend, then the other, and then counting all.
- Model how to write each addition sentence as you go and discuss the parts of an addition sentence.
3. Hands-On Collaboration
Hands-on activities are an important part of any lesson. This hands-on activity allows time for students to get up and move around the room, giving them a needed brain break.
- Place the Backyard Bugs cards around the room where students can easily view them.
- Students will walk the room with a partner and count the number of bugs in each color. (For example, 3 black flies and 2 purple flies).
- They will color the boxes on their recording sheet to match and then they will write the addition sentence.
4. Independent Practice
Now it is time for students to practice their new addition skills independently. Independent practice is a great time for teachers to walk around and check student understanding, help them with their work or pull small groups as needed.
- Using the Butterfly Addition sheet, students will count the dots on each butterfly's wings.
- They will then write the numbers in the spaces provided and count all of the dots to find and write the sum.
5. Check for Understanding
Each lesson in our Lucky to Learn 1st grade math curriculum includes a check for understanding quick assessment to wrap up the day. This will show you which students may need more practice with the day's lesson objectives. Perhaps these students could be pulled for a small group during independent practice the next day! These check for understanding practices are super quick and informative.
Bonus: Differentiation Options
We all know students come in at all levels of math understanding. Differentiation is key! Each lesson in Lucky to Learn math comes with an intervention activity for those students struggling AND an extension activities for those students needing an extra challenge.
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Happy teaching!
My grade-level team has been using Lucky to Learn Math for 2nd grade this year. We love it and our kiddos have grown like never before! Our district is looking to purchase a new Math curriculum and I will be piloting next year. I think they would truly consider your program if it covered grades K-2. Please tell me there is a Kindergarten one being developed! Thank you!!