Missing Addends with Frames and Arrows!

Today we took a break from Math Workshop to get in a fun Frames and Arrows lesson! Frames and arrows teach students about missing addends in a more 'complicated' way in my opinion. This way really encourages those critical thinking skills. So, I do love teaching this first because it makes missing addends a piece of cake! It is a part of Everyday Math.

 I didn't quite do the lesson the way they said to do it because...last year when I taught this it was pretty boring (because I did teach it the Everyday Math way)... dun, dun, dun... first year teacher troubles right there... not realizing I can change it up to teach the same concept!
 

This year with some serious brainstorming I came up with this lesson... and when I say I brainstormed... I meant I didn't have this idea until my planning period today right before math! This is what I whipped up and OMG I had one loud, active, math talking' classroom! I LOVED it! Sometimes I think these kind of  lessons are the best ones!

--Great ideas always happen that way don't they!?!--

First, I introduced what frames and arrows were using this anchor chart.

 

We went over our question, "How can I find the rule?"

Yesterday, students learned how to solve their frames and today they had to figure out what they had to add or subtract to get from one box (frame) to the next.

 

 

Then I went over two questions that we always need to ask before we try to find the rule.

1. What would the number sentence be?

2. Is it addition or subtraction? 

 

To begin this lesson the sticky in the "Rule" box would be blank.

I only had 16 and 13 on the board and the last 3 yellow sticky notes were blank.

 

We used the number sentence sticky noes below to help us find the missing addend AKA rule! After we found the rule then we could solve the rest of the frames (boxes) with the missing numbers.

 

 

We did a few of these together. I had about four sticky notes on each part of this anchor chart so when we were ready for a new one I didn't have to re-stick the sticky notes = *Time Saver.*

 

After we practiced how to do this about four times and students felt comfortable trying one on their own they were broken up into partners - based on ability.

 

I passed out large pieces of paper to partners and they had to find the rule and solve the missing frames in their frames and arrows problems.

 

This activity was very easy to differentiation. I ordered these frames and arrows problems by abilities and passed them out in that order. It was perfect because then all students finished around the same time because it wasn't oober easy for my high students or super hard for my lower students.

 

When students finished with their partner I had them sit in a line behind their frames and arrows problem. They had to flip their paper upside down so no one could 'see.'

 

Then they each went and got a marker and they were to be the teachers and grade one another's work!

Let me tell you... they LOVED this!

I love it too because.. guess what!!--- in order to grade they have to figure out the rule and the answers to the frames!! ;)



 

That's all for today folks!!

Hope this helps you out if you also do frames and arrows or even just maybe to help students think critically about missing addend problems!!