Context

Hello, little mathematicians! Let's embark on an amazing adventure into the world of numbers and learn more about addition and subtraction! You know, we use math every day, even when we don't realize it. It helps us solve problems, understand the world around us, and even play our favorite games!

Addition and subtraction are two fundamental math operations that enable us to join or take away things. You have used addition when counting your toys, your family pets, or the points you make in a game. And you use subtraction when you take away or lose something, like when you eat a piece of cake or when a friend leaves and makes the group smaller.

Getting Started

Addition

Addition is an operation that lets us join two or more numbers to make a new amount. For example, if we have 2 apples and we add 3 more apples, we will have a total of 5 apples. In addition, the numbers we join are called addends, and the result we get is called the sum.

Subtraction

Subtraction, on the other hand, is an operation that lets us take away one number from another to find their difference. For example, if we have 5 candies and we eat 2, we will have 3 candies left. In subtraction, the number we take away is called the subtrahend, and the result we get is called the difference.

These operations are very important for solving everyday problems. For example, if you want to buy a toy that costs $10 and you need to know how much you have and how much more you need to get to $10, that involves addition and subtraction!

Now, are you ready for our great math adventure? Let's go!

Hands-on Activity: "The Great Number Hunt"

Project Aim

The aim of this project is that you, little mathematicians, practice and have fun with addition and subtraction of numbers smaller than 1,000. You will work together in groups and get creative while solving real-life problems that involve these operations.

Project Description

You will create a "Number Hunt" where each number you find will ask you to solve an addition or subtraction problem. You will be split into teams of 3–5 students, and each team will create their own number hunt. You will be drawing or writing the numbers on pieces of paper and hiding them around the classroom or an open space like the schoolyard. Teams will then swap number hunts and solve each other's problems.

Materials You'll Need

1. Paper
2. Pencils and erasers
3. Colorful markers or crayons
4. Scissors (with teacher supervision)
5. Tape (optional, to attach hidden numbers)

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Team Up: Your teacher will divide you into teams of 3–5 students.

2. Project Introduction: Your teacher will explain the project and its objective, and how the activity will go. Your teacher will also remind you about addition and subtraction and how we use them every day.

3. Number Hunt Preparation: Each team will get a piece of paper and colorful markers or pens to draw or write the numbers 1 to 20. Be creative and decorate your numbers! Remember, each number will be an addition or subtraction question.

4. Hiding the Numbers: Once you have written or drawn your numbers, you will take turns hiding them around the classroom or schoolyard. Remember where you hide them, because you will be finding the numbers to solve the problems!

5. Swapping Number Hunts: When all your teams are done hiding their numbers, you will exchange hunts with another team. Each team should get a new number hunt to solve from a different team.

6. Solving the Problems: This is the exciting part! You will hunt for the hidden numbers and solve the addition and subtraction problems written on them. Remember to write down your answers on a piece of paper!

7. Presenting Your Work: After solving all the problems, each team will present their answers to the team that created the number hunt. Your teacher will check the answers and give you feedback!

Remember, math is an amazing adventure and this project helps you explore it and have fun!

Submission Format

Each team should turn in the number hunt it created and the answers they found for the given addition and subtraction problems to their teacher. In addition, each student will write a short paragraph about what they learned during the project and how math can be fun.