Join Groups to Add

Today we will explore addition. Addition means joining groups to find how many there are altogether. You can use blocks, buttons, fingers, or quick drawings. Seeing the groups helps the number sentence make sense.

Put two groups together

Suppose you have 4 blocks and a friend gives you 3 more. Push the groups together and count: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. There are 7 blocks altogether. We can write 4 + 3 = 7. The plus sign means add or join. The equals sign means that both sides have the same amount.

Start with the bigger group

If you already know how many are in one group, you do not always need to count from 1. For 8 + 3, start at 8 and count on three more: 9, 10, 11. So 8 + 3 = 11. Keep one finger up for each number you count on.

Use things you know

You can add groups in a snack bowl, a toy box, or a picture. If there are 5 toy cars on the rug and 2 more roll over, count all the cars. You can draw five dots, then two more dots, and count them together.

Example: pencils on a desk

There are 6 pencils in a cup. A teacher puts 4 more beside them. Start at 6 and count on 4: 7, 8, 9, 10. There are 10 pencils. The number sentence is 6 + 4 = 10.

Check what the numbers mean

The numbers before the equals sign tell how many are in the groups. The answer tells how many there are in all. Addition can join two groups in either order: 6 + 4 and 4 + 6 both make 10. You can check with counters if you are not sure.

Try saying the story aloud as you work: “I had this many. I got some more. Now I have this many altogether.” The story helps you connect the symbols to real things.

Key takeaways

• Addition joins groups to find a total.
• The plus sign means add, and the equals sign means the amounts match.
• Count on from a number you know.
• Objects and drawings can help show the groups.

Practice

Draw or build 7 counters, then add 5 more. Count on to find the total.

Answer: 7 + 5 = 12. There are 12 counters altogether.