Butterfly Sums
By Caroline Wyman
Objective: The children will be able to see that different numbers can be added together to get the same total. The students will understand the word "sum". Kindergarten - 1st grade
Initiation: Can anyone tell me what 3+4 equals? How about 6+1? How about 2+5? Do they all add up to the same sum?
Development: Each student will get 4 cut out butterflies with enough room on their wings to put dots on one side that when they are added together they will have one sum. For example one wing might have 4 dots and the other 2 dots for the sum of six. Another wing might have 3 dots and the other wing 3 dots for the sum of six. And so on for the other two butterflies. On the other side of the wings, the numbers can be written that represent the dots. This will show the students that different numbers added together will equal the same sum. Use colored pencils to make the butterflies colorful.
Closure: Share butterflies and chart the different number families.
Materials: Butterfly cut outs and colored pencils.
Time: 30 min.
Caroline Wyman has a degree in Sociology and a Masters in Elementary Education and is the administrator for TeacherNet.com.