Algebra Readiness Made Easy Grade 1

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Count the Spots

Overview

Given an animal with a specific number of spots, children draw the same number of

spots on each similar animal and identify the total number of spots.

Algebra

Reason about proportional relationships

Problem-Solving Strategies

Drawing pictures to solve problems

Related Math Skills

Add basic facts • Count by 2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s

Math Language

How many • In all

Introducing the Problem Set

Make photocopies of “Solve the Problem: Count the Spots” (page 33) and distribute to

children. Have children work in pairs, encouraging them to discuss strategies they

might use to solve the problem. You may want to walk around and listen in on some of

their discussions. After a few minutes, display the problem on the board (or on the

overhead if you made a transparency) and use the following questions to guide a

whole-class discussion on how to solve the problem:

• Look at the picture of the dog on top of the page. How many spots does he

have? (2)

• What do the numbers in the top rectangle describe? (1 dog. 2 spots.)


• What do you need to do? (Draw two spots on each dog, then tell the number of spots in all.)


• What do you see in the picture in question 1? (Two dogs and no spots)


• What will you do first? (Draw two spots on each dog.)

Algebra Readiness Made Easy: Grade 1 © Greenes, Findell & Cavanagh, Scholastic Teaching Resources 31