📋 Direction Card — Read This First!

Welcome to the Candle Shop Sale! 🕯️

You are helping the candle shop owner add up prices during the big sale. Each card below shows a decimal addition problem. Use your Montessori decimal board and golden bead materials to build each number, then find the sum.

How to use these cards:

1️⃣ Choose a problem card (Cards 1–8 below).

2️⃣ Read the candle shop story on the card.

3️⃣ Build the first number on your decimal board using beads and tiles.

4️⃣ Add the second number on top.

5️⃣ Read the total from your board and record it in your booklet.

6️⃣ When finished, flip to the Control of Error Card to check your answer.

Materials needed: Decimal board, golden bead units, ten-bars, hundred-squares, thousand-cubes, coloured tiles (tenths, hundredths, thousandths), pencil, recording booklet.

🌟 Differentiation Strategies

Support (Emerging Learners): Use only Cards 1–3, which involve tenths only. Work with a partner. Use a place value mat with labels to organise beads before transferring to the board.

On-Level Learners: Complete Cards 1–6 independently. Record each addend and sum in the recording booklet.

Extension (Advanced Learners): Complete all 8 cards, then try the Extension Activity at the end of this sheet. Create your own candle shop problem for a classmate to solve!

🕯️ Problem Cards — Cut Apart and Laminate

Print on cardstock, cut along the dotted lines, and laminate for repeated use.

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CARD 1 🕯️

A lavender candle costs $3.20. A vanilla candle costs $1.50. How much do both candles cost together?

$3.20 + $1.50 = $ ___________

Build each price on your decimal board. Add and record your answer.

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CARD 2 🕯️

A rose candle costs $4.60. A citrus candle costs $2.30. What is the total price?

$4.60 + $2.30 = $ ___________

Build each price on your decimal board. Add and record your answer.

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CARD 3 🕯️

A beeswax candle costs $5.40. A pine candle costs $3.10. What is the total?

$5.40 + $3.10 = $ ___________

Build each price on your decimal board. Add and record your answer.

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CARD 4 🕯️

A coconut candle costs $6.45. A mint candle costs $2.32. What is the total price?

$6.45 + $2.32 = $ ___________

Build each price on your decimal board. Add and record your answer.

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CARD 5 🕯️

A cinnamon candle costs $7.23. A lemon candle costs $1.54. What do both candles cost?

$7.23 + $1.54 = $ ___________

Build each price on your decimal board. Add and record your answer.

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CARD 6 🕯️

A sandalwood candle costs $8.36. A cherry candle costs $1.42. What is the total?

$8.36 + $1.42 = $ ___________

Build each price on your decimal board. Add and record your answer.

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CARD 7 🕯️ ⭐ Challenge

A gardenia candle costs $12.75. An ocean breeze candle costs $6.48. What is the total cost?

$12.75 + $6.48 = $ ___________

Build each price on your decimal board. Regroup if needed. Add and record your answer.

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CARD 8 🕯️ ⭐⭐ Super Challenge

The shop owner bought supplies: beeswax for $14.37 and wicks for $5.86. How much did she spend in total?

$14.37 + $5.86 = $ ___________

Build each amount on your decimal board. Regroup carefully. Add and record your answer.

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✅ Control of Error Card — Check Your Work!

Only look at this card AFTER you have recorded all your answers. Use it to check yourself!

Card 1: $3.20 + $1.50 = $4.70

Card 2: $4.60 + $2.30 = $6.90

Card 3: $5.40 + $3.10 = $8.50

Card 4: $6.45 + $2.32 = $8.77

Card 5: $7.23 + $1.54 = $8.77

Card 6: $8.36 + $1.42 = $9.78

Card 7: $12.75 + $6.48 = $19.23

Card 8: $14.37 + $5.86 = $20.23

✅ How did you do? If you made an error, rebuild that card on your decimal board and look carefully at each place value column. Where did the regrouping happen?

🌟 Extension Activity — For Advanced Learners

Design Your Own Candle Shop Problem!

1. Choose two candle prices with hundredths (e.g., $___.___ and $___.___).

2. Write a short story about buying those candles.

3. Build both numbers on the decimal board and find the total.

4. Write the equation and answer below, then swap with a classmate to solve!

Bonus Challenge: Can you find three candle prices from Cards 1–8 that add up to more than $20.00? List them here: