Plant the seeds of math knowledge! Discover what addition and subtraction really mean with fun garden adventures. Watch your understanding grow!
Plant, water, and harvest math knowledge with these interactive activities!
Combine groups to find the total!
🖱️ Drag options below to the correct boxes (computer) or click to move (mobile)
Choose the right operation!
Look at the picture and write the equation!
Build a strong foundation in addition and subtraction - the heart of all math!
Addition means PUTTING TOGETHER or COMBINING two or more groups to find the total! When you add, the answer gets BIGGER. We use the + symbol (plus sign) to show addition. Think of it as growing your garden by planting more flowers!
💡 Imagine planting 3 red flowers and 5 yellow flowers - addition tells you the total flowers in your garden!
Toy Collection
You have 4 toy cars. Friend gives you 3 more cars. Add them: 4 + 3 = 7 toy cars total!
Cookie Jar
Mom bakes 6 cookies. Dad bakes 5 cookies. How many total? 6 + 5 = 11 cookies!
Garden Flowers
Plant 7 roses + 4 tulips = 11 flowers in your garden! Addition combines them!
Books on Shelf
5 books on top shelf + 8 books on bottom shelf = 13 books total!
Birthday Balloons
9 red balloons + 6 blue balloons = 15 balloons for the party!
Thinking addition makes numbers smaller! Remember: Addition ALWAYS makes the total bigger (or stays same if adding 0)!
Subtraction means TAKING AWAY or REMOVING part of a group! When you subtract, the answer gets SMALLER. We use the - symbol (minus sign) to show subtraction. Think of it like picking flowers from your garden!
💡 Imagine having 10 apples and eating 4 - subtraction tells you how many are left!
Eating Snacks
You have 12 crackers. You eat 5 crackers. How many left? 12 - 5 = 7 crackers remain!
Giving Away Toys
You have 15 stickers. Give 7 to your friend. How many left? 15 - 7 = 8 stickers!
Garden Harvest
10 tomatoes growing. Pick 6 for dinner. How many left growing? 10 - 6 = 4 tomatoes!
Birds Flying Away
14 birds on a tree. 9 fly away. How many stay? 14 - 9 = 5 birds left!
Used Crayons
Box has 18 crayons. 8 are broken. How many good ones? 18 - 8 = 10 good crayons!
Mixing up which number goes first! In 10 - 3, you START with 10 and take away 3. The bigger number usually comes first!
The + sign tells us to ADD or COMBINE! When you see +, think 'put together.' It's like a signal that says: 'Make this group bigger by adding more!' Always read left to right: first number + second number.
💡 The + looks like a cross - it connects two groups into ONE bigger group!
Reading It Right
8 + 5 reads as 'eight plus five' or 'eight add five' = 13
In a Sentence
'Emma has 7 apples. Gets 4 more.' Write it: 7 + 4 = 11 apples!
Multiple Adds
Can add more than two! 3 + 4 + 2 = 9. Add first two, then add the third!
Real World
Store sign: 'Buy 2, get 1 free!' That's 2 + 1 = 3 items total!
Confusing + with other symbols. Plus (+) means ADD, not subtract or multiply!
The - sign tells us to SUBTRACT or TAKE AWAY! When you see -, think 'remove from the group.' It signals: 'Make this group smaller!' Order matters a LOT in subtraction - always start with the first number!
💡 The - looks like removing a line - it shows something is being taken away!
Reading It Right
13 - 5 reads as 'thirteen minus five' or 'thirteen subtract five' = 8
In a Sentence
'Jake had 16 marbles. Lost 7.' Write it: 16 - 7 = 9 marbles left!
Order Matters!
5 - 3 = 2, but 3 - 5 is different! Can't take away more than you have (in 1st grade)!
Zero Result
10 - 10 = 0. If you take away everything, nothing remains!
Switching the numbers! 14 - 6 is NOT the same as 6 - 14. The first number is what you START with!
The = sign means 'is the same as' or 'equals.' It shows the answer! Both sides of = must have the same value. It's like a balance - both sides must weigh the same!
💡 The = sign has two parallel lines showing perfect balance - like a perfectly level see-saw!
In Addition
7 + 3 = 10. The left side (7+3) equals the right side (10). Same value!
In Subtraction
15 - 6 = 9. The answer 9 is what 15-6 equals. They're the same!
Both Sides Same
5 + 5 = 10 and 10 = 5 + 5 mean the exact same thing! Order doesn't matter with =
Without Operations
12 = 12. The simplest equation - both sides are identical!
Using = to mean 'and then' in a story. Example: '3+2=5+1=6' is confusing! Each equation needs its own =
Addition is about GROWTH and INCREASE! Whether you're gaining points in a game, getting more toys, or seeing flowers bloom - addition shows things getting bigger. The sum (answer) is always equal to or GREATER than the numbers you started with!
💡 Think of addition like a garden growing - you plant seeds (numbers) and watch the total grow bigger!
Growing Collection
Start with 8 Pokemon cards. Trade for 7 more. Collection grows: 8 + 7 = 15 cards!
Points in Game
Round 1: 12 points. Round 2: 8 more points. Total score grows: 12 + 8 = 20 points!
Garden Growing
Week 1: 5 tomatoes. Week 2: 6 more tomatoes. Garden grows: 5 + 6 = 11 tomatoes!
Saving Money
Saved $9 in January + $11 in February. Savings grow: 9 + 11 = $20!
Not seeing the 'bigger picture' of addition. Help kids understand that addition = more/bigger/growing!
Subtraction is about what REMAINS after taking away! Whether you're eating cookies, giving away toys, or using supplies - subtraction tells you what's LEFT. The difference (answer) is always LESS than what you started with!
💡 Think of subtraction like picking flowers from a garden - you see what remains after some are picked!
Cookies Eaten
Plate had 13 cookies. Ate 5 cookies. What's left? 13 - 5 = 8 cookies remain!
Crayons Used
Box had 18 crayons. Used 9 for art. What's left? 18 - 9 = 9 crayons unused!
Flowers Picked
Garden had 14 flowers. Picked 6 for vase. What's left? 14 - 6 = 8 flowers growing!
Pages Left to Read
Book has 20 pages. Read 12 pages. How many left? 20 - 12 = 8 pages to go!
Forgetting that subtraction shows 'what's left.' The answer is what REMAINS, not what was taken away!
Addition and subtraction are OPPOSITE operations! Addition puts together (grows), subtraction takes apart (shrinks). They UNDO each other! If you add 5 then subtract 5, you're back where you started. They're like planting flowers and picking flowers - opposite actions!
💡 Think of them as opposite forces - one builds up, one breaks down. Together they balance!
Undoing Each Other
Start with 7. Add 4 = 11. Subtract 4 = 7. Back to start! 7+4-4=7
Checking Your Work
If 8 + 5 = 13, then 13 - 5 = 8! Use subtraction to check addition!
Garden Growing & Picking
Plant 9 flowers (add). Pick 4 flowers (subtract). 9+4-4=9. Opposites!
Money In & Out
Earn $12 (add). Spend $12 (subtract). Back to $0! +12-12=0
Real Life Balance
Getting toys (add) vs giving away toys (subtract). Opposite actions!
Not understanding they're opposites. Teach that addition and subtraction are like forward/backward on a number line!