Math lesson plan · Kindergarten (Reception and Year 1 in England) · 30 minutes
Take away with pictures (to 5)
Addition and subtraction
CCSS K.OA.A.1CCSS K.OA.A.5England: Reception Number
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Take away with pictures (to 5).
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Count pictures up to 5
Leads to: Take away with pictures (to 10)
Materials: Base-ten blocks, Number lines, Hundred square, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Count pictures up to 5). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- How many dots are there? ● ● ● ● ● → 5Prompt: Touch each one as you count it.
- Which number tells how many hearts? ♥ ♥ ♥ (1 / 2 / 3 / 4) → 3Prompt: Count them carefully, one at a time.
- Omar counted these stars and said "1". Is Omar right? ★ ★ (Yes / No) → NoPrompt: Count the pictures yourself first.
Hook · 3 min
- Give a real shopping total or a score difference and ask for a quick estimate first.
- Share the objective: Take away with pictures (to 5). Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 7 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: There were 4. The ✗ ones were taken away. How many are left? ♥ ♥ ✗ ✗
- Step 1: 4 − 2 = 2
- Step 2: 2
- Answer: 2
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 6 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- There were 3. The ✗ ones were taken away. How many are left? ▲ ▲ ✗ → 2Prompt: Do not count the crossed-out ones.
- 3 ducks are in the pond. 2 swim away. How many ducks are still in the pond? → 1Prompt: Hold up 3 fingers.
You do: independent practice · 7 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 3 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- 1 − 0 = ? → 1Prompt: Start with 1. Take 0 away.
- 3 ducks are in the pond. 1 swim away. How many ducks are still in the pond? → 2Prompt: Hold up 3 fingers.
Watch out for
- Subtracting the smaller digit from the bigger one in every column (52 − 17 = 45).
- Forgetting to add the regrouped (carried) ten.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Count pictures up to 5.
- Use concrete materials: base-ten blocks.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Take away with pictures (to 10).
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/kindergarten.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder