Superheroes, Sea Monsters, and Math!

Math Grades 1st Grade 3:37 Video
Print Lesson Plan Watch Video

Lesson Description

Join us for a fun adventure solving addition and subtraction problems within 20 using stories about superheroes and sea monsters!

Video Resource

Sea monsters and superheroes | Addition and subtraction within 20 | Early Math | Khan Academy

Khan Academy

Duration: 3:37
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Addition within 20
  • Subtraction within 20
  • Solving word problems
  • Identifying unknowns in equations

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to solve addition and subtraction word problems within 20.
  • Students will be able to identify the unknown number in an equation.
  • Students will be able to use different strategies (e.g., counting on) to solve addition and subtraction problems.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students if they like superheroes and sea monsters. Briefly discuss their favorite characters or stories. Introduce the idea that math can help us solve problems in exciting stories!
  • Video Viewing (7 mins)
    Play the Khan Academy video: 'Sea monsters and superheroes | Addition and subtraction within 20 | Early Math | Khan Academy'. Encourage students to pay attention to how the narrator solves the problems.
  • Guided Practice (10 mins)
    Work through the superhero problem together as a class. Ask guiding questions like: 'What are we trying to find out?' 'What information do we know?' 'Should we add or subtract?' Write the equation on the board (14 - 3 = ?). Count down from 14 to subtract 3, using fingers or drawings. Repeat this process with the sea monster problem (9 + 5 = ?), counting on from 9 to add 5.
  • Independent Practice (10 mins)
    Present students with similar word problems on a worksheet or whiteboard. For example: *There are 12 friendly ghosts in a haunted house. 4 of them are wearing hats. How many ghosts are NOT wearing hats? * 7 playful puppies are at the park. 8 sleepy kittens join them. How many animals are at the park now? Encourage students to draw pictures or use manipulatives (like counters) to help them solve the problems.
  • Wrap-up (3 mins)
    Review the answers to the independent practice problems. Ask students to share the strategies they used to solve them. Reinforce the importance of reading the problem carefully and identifying what the question is asking.

Interactive Exercises

  • Superhero Subtraction Game
    Create a superhero-themed subtraction game where students roll a dice and move spaces on a game board. Each space has a subtraction problem they need to solve to stay on the space.
  • Sea Monster Addition Story
    Have students create their own sea monster addition story. They can draw pictures to go along with their story and then share it with the class.

Discussion Questions

  • What are some strategies you can use to solve addition problems?
  • How does drawing a picture help you solve a word problem?
  • How are addition and subtraction related?

Skills Developed

  • Addition and Subtraction within 20
  • Problem-solving
  • Reading comprehension
  • Critical thinking
  • Mathematical reasoning

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

There are 8 apples on a tree. You pick 3 apples. How many apples are left on the tree?

Correct Answer: 5

Question 2:

Lily has 5 dolls. Her friend gives her 4 more dolls. How many dolls does Lily have now?

Correct Answer: 9

Question 3:

What does the question mark (?) mean in a math problem?

Correct Answer: It means something is missing

Question 4:

There are 10 cookies on a plate. If you eat 2 of them, how many cookies are left?

Correct Answer: 8

Question 5:

Tom has 6 toy cars. Sarah has 4 toy cars. How many toy cars do they have in all?

Correct Answer: 10

Question 6:

Which of these means you have MORE?

Correct Answer: Adding

Question 7:

Which of these means you have LESS?

Correct Answer: Taking Away

Question 8:

Ben has 15 balloons. 5 balloons pop. How many balloons does Ben have now?

Correct Answer: 10

Question 9:

What number comes after 9 when you count?

Correct Answer: 10

Question 10:

You have 7 candies. Your mom gives you 3 more. How many candies do you have?

Correct Answer: 10

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

If you have 5 toys and get 2 more, you have _____ toys in all.

Correct Answer: 7

Question 2:

8 minus 3 is ____.

Correct Answer: 5

Question 3:

Adding means putting things ________.

Correct Answer: together

Question 4:

Subtracting means taking things _____.

Correct Answer: away

Question 5:

The number that is missing is called the ________.

Correct Answer: unknown

Question 6:

If 6 + 4 = 10, then 10 - 4 = ____.

Correct Answer: 6

Question 7:

Nine plus one more is ____.

Correct Answer: 10

Question 8:

If you have 12 crayons and lose 2, you have _____ crayons left.

Correct Answer: 10

Question 9:

When solving a word problem, it helps to _______ what the problem is about.

Correct Answer: read

Question 10:

Using your ________ can help you solve math problems.

Correct Answer: fingers

Educational Standards

CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.A.1:Use addition and subtraction within 20 to solve word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem. CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.D.8:Determine the unknown whole number in an addition or subtraction equation relating three whole numbers. For example, determine the unknown number that makes the equation true in each of the equations 8 + ? = 11, 5 = _ - 3, 6 + 6 = _. CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.C.6:Add and subtract within 20, demonstrating fluency for addition and subtraction within 10. Use strategies such as counting on; making ten (e.g., 8 + 6 = 8 + 2 + 4 = 10 + 4 = 14); decomposing a number leading to a ten (e.g., 13 - 4 = 13 - 3 - 1 = 10 - 1 = 9); using the relationship between addition and subtraction (e.g., knowing that 8 + 4 = 12, one knows 12 - 8 = 4); and creating equivalent but easier or known sums (e.g., adding 6 + 7 by creating the known equivalent 6 + 6 + 1 = 12 + 1 = 13).

Teaching Materials

Download ready-to-use materials for this lesson:

Student Worksheet Classroom Slides Assessment Quiz Export to Google Docs
Add to Google Classroom

User Actions

Sign in to save this lesson plan to your favorites.

Sign In

Share This Lesson

Related Lesson Plans