Arctic Adventure: Unlocking Fact Families with Addition and Subtraction!

Math Grades 1st Grade 3:25 Video
Print Lesson Plan Watch Video

Lesson Description

Join us on an arctic adventure to learn about fact families! Discover how addition and subtraction are related using fun visuals and real-world examples. This lesson will help you understand how three numbers can make four different math facts.

Video Resource

Fact Family Triangles - Addition and Subtraction Cartoon | Math for 1st Grade | Kids Academy

Kids Academy

Duration: 3:25
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Fact Families
  • Addition
  • Subtraction
  • Commutative Property of Addition

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify the three numbers that make up a fact family.
  • Students will be able to write the four addition and subtraction facts for a given fact family.
  • Students will understand the relationship between addition and subtraction.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students if they know what a family is. Explain that just like people have families, numbers can too! Introduce the term 'fact family' and explain that it's a group of three numbers that are related by addition and subtraction. Show a simple example like 1, 2, and 3. Briefly introduce the video.
  • Video Viewing (7 mins)
    Play the YouTube video: Fact Family Triangles - Addition and Subtraction Cartoon | Math for 1st Grade | Kids Academy. Encourage students to pay attention to how the man in the video uses the dogs, ropes, fish, and seals to show different fact families.
  • Discussion (5 mins)
    After the video, ask students what they saw in the video. Discuss the different fact families the man showed with the ropes, dogs, fish, and seals. Emphasize how the same three numbers were used to make both addition and subtraction problems.
  • Fact Family Practice (10 mins)
    Draw a fact family triangle on the board. Write three numbers inside it (e.g., 2, 4, 6). Guide students in writing the four related math facts: 2 + 4 = 6, 4 + 2 = 6, 6 - 2 = 4, 6 - 4 = 2. Repeat with a few more examples, having students help you write the facts. You can use manipulatives like counters to help visualize the addition and subtraction.
  • Independent Practice (8 mins)
    Give each student a worksheet with pre-drawn fact family triangles. Provide the three numbers for each triangle, and have students write the four related math facts on their own. Circulate to provide assistance as needed.

Interactive Exercises

  • Fact Family Flashcards
    Create flashcards with three numbers on each card (e.g., 3, 5, 8). Divide students into small groups and have them take turns drawing a card and writing down the four related math facts. They can check each other's work.
  • Building Fact Families with Blocks
    Use building blocks to represent fact families. For example, for the numbers 2, 3, and 5, have students build a tower of 2 blocks and a tower of 3 blocks. Then, combine them to show 2 + 3 = 5. Then break the 5 block tower back into 2 and 3 block towers, to represent the subtractions 5-2=3 and 5-3=2.

Discussion Questions

  • What is a fact family?
  • How are addition and subtraction related in a fact family?
  • Can you think of a fact family using the numbers 1, 5, and 6?

Skills Developed

  • Addition Fluency
  • Subtraction Fluency
  • Understanding Number Relationships
  • Problem Solving

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

What is a fact family?

Correct Answer: A group of related numbers.

Question 2:

How many numbers are in a fact family?

Correct Answer: Three

Question 3:

If a fact family has the numbers 1, 2, and 3, which math fact is NOT part of the family?

Correct Answer: 4 + 1 = 5

Question 4:

What is addition?

Correct Answer: Putting together.

Question 5:

What is subtraction?

Correct Answer: Taking away.

Question 6:

If 2 + 3 = 5, which subtraction problem is in the same fact family?

Correct Answer: 5 - 3 = 2

Question 7:

Which sign means addition?

Correct Answer: +

Question 8:

Which sign means subtraction?

Correct Answer: -

Question 9:

What numbers are in the fact family for 4+5=9?

Correct Answer: 4, 5, 9

Question 10:

In the fact family 1, 4, and 5, what is 5 - 1?

Correct Answer: 4

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

A fact family has _____ numbers.

Correct Answer: three

Question 2:

Putting numbers together is called _________.

Correct Answer: addition

Question 3:

Taking numbers away is called _________.

Correct Answer: subtraction

Question 4:

2 + 3 = 5 is an _________ problem.

Correct Answer: addition

Question 5:

5 - 2 = 3 is a _________ problem.

Correct Answer: subtraction

Question 6:

The numbers 1, 2, and 3 make a _________ _________.

Correct Answer: fact family

Question 7:

If 3 + 4 = 7, then 7 - 3 = _________.

Correct Answer: 4

Question 8:

If 1 + 5 = 6, then 5 + 1 = _________.

Correct Answer: 6

Question 9:

In the fact family of 2, 7, and 9. 9 - 2 = _________.

Correct Answer: 7

Question 10:

In the fact family of 3, 6, and 9. 3 + 6 = _________.

Correct Answer: 9

Educational Standards

CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.B.4:Understand subtraction as an unknown-addend problem. For example, subtract 10 - 8 by finding the number that makes 10 when added to 8. 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). CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.B.3:Apply properties of operations as strategies to add and subtract. (Students need not use formal terms for these properties.) Examples: If 8 + 3 = 11 is known, then 3 + 8 = 11 is also known. (Commutative property of addition.) To add 2 + 6 + 4, the second two numbers can be added to make a ten, so 2 + 6 + 4 = 2 + 10 = 12. (Associative property of addition.)

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