The first mathematical operation that students are introduced to in elementary mathematics is addition. To add means to bring together or combine two objects. The addition has an infinite number of applications in our day-to-day life. We use addition while cooking food calculating bills at supermarkets, calculating distances, and much more.
In the early years, the introduction to addition is typically hands-on, visual, and interactive to make the concept engaging and accessible for our young learners. There are a few strategies and activities for teaching in addition to Early years as follows,
Counting with objects
Tens frame
Number line
Number stories
Visual aids
The young mathematicians of EY 3 have begun their journey by learning addition with counting using everyday objects like books, water bottles, blocks, etc. Here objects were placed in two different circles and the learners were made to count how many were there altogether. Vocabulary and symbols like altogether, plus (+), equal to (=), and addition statement was introduced to the learners.
In addition to tens frames, they were given two numbers to add, the students also explored their activity-based learning. It is expected for the students to arrange the manipulatives (pompoms) on the tens frame, add, and find the answer. Through activity-based learning, the students had a great time learning the addition.
Number line, finger addition, and addition stories were introduced progressively to allow them to enjoy and learn at their own pace.
