Exploring Mathematical Operations

Lesson Overview

Year Level: Foundation (Prep)
Subject: Mathematics
Lesson Duration: 30 minutes
Unit: Problem Solving Adventures - Lesson 5 of 6
Australian Curriculum Area:

• Content Descriptor: AC9MFN02 – Recognise and represent practical situations that involve addition, subtraction and quantification using numbers, symbols and objects.
• Achievement Standard: Students use practical strategies to solve simple addition and subtraction problems.

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Understand and apply the concepts of addition and subtraction in practical scenarios.
2. Solve simple word problems using manipulatives and drawings.
3. Explain their thinking when solving mathematical problems.

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Materials & Resources

• Number cards (1-10)
• Small counters (e.g. buttons, blocks, or tokens)
• Story problem cards with simple addition and subtraction scenarios
• Mini whiteboards and markers
• A large number line displayed in the classroom

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Lesson Structure

Warm-Up Activity (5 minutes) – Action Maths

• Gather students in a circle and explain that they will use their bodies to show addition and subtraction.
• Say a simple number sentence aloud, e.g. “Three people stand up. Now, two more join them. How many are standing?”
• Invite students to physically act out the problem and count together.
• Repeat with a subtraction example, e.g. “Five students are hopping. Two stop. How many are still hopping?”
• Reinforce mathematical vocabulary: more, less, add, take away, total, how many left?

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Explicit Teaching (7 minutes) – Story Problem Exploration

• Introduce a fun narrative context: "Today, we are problem-solving detectives! We will solve maths mysteries using addition and subtraction."
• Read a short problem aloud: "Charlie has three apples. His friend gives him two more. How many apples does he have in total?"
• Model the solution by drawing apples on the whiteboard and writing the number sentence (3 + 2 = 5).
• Repeat with a subtraction story, e.g. "Olivia has six balloons, but two float away. How many does she have left?"
• Encourage students to count on their fingers, use the number line, or act the story out.

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Guided Practice (10 minutes) – Hands-On Problem Solving

• Divide students into small groups and provide each with counters and a story problem card.
• Groups solve their problem using counters, drawings, or number sentences on mini whiteboards.
• Circulate the classroom, prompting with questions:
  • "How did you figure that out?"
  • "Can you show me in another way?"
• Each group shares their reasoning with the class.

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Independent Practice (5 minutes) – Solve & Swap

• Each student creates a simple word problem on their whiteboard (with teacher support as needed).
• They swap problems with a partner and solve it.
• Students share their answers and discuss strategies.

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Reflection & Conclusion (3 minutes) – Exit Ticket

• Ask: “What did we learn about solving problems today?”
• Students share their favourite strategy for adding or subtracting.
• Wrap up by reinforcing that problem-solving is like detective work – we use clues (numbers, objects, drawings) to find the answer!

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Assessment & Differentiation

Assessment Opportunities:

✔ Observe how students use manipulatives and drawings to model problems.
✔ Listen to their reasoning when explaining solutions.
✔ Check independent work for correctness and clarity.

Differentiation Strategies:

• For students needing extra support: Provide pre-drawn pictures or use physical objects to reinforce concepts.
• For students needing extension: Challenge them with problems using numbers beyond 10 or introduce missing number puzzles (e.g. “I had some marbles. My friend gave me 3 more, now I have 7. How many did I have to start with?”).

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Teacher Reflection Questions

• Were students engaged in problem-solving discussions?
• Did all students understand and apply addition and subtraction strategies?
• What strategies were most effective in helping students explain their thinking?

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This lesson combines movement, storytelling, and hands-on problem-solving to make mathematical operations meaningful for young learners. By embedding maths into real-life contexts, students will develop confidence in solving problems independently while fostering a love for mathematical exploration.