Hi Ho - Adding We Will Go (Tune: “The Farmer in the Dell”)
1 plus 1 equals 2 (Hold up fingers as you sing.)
1 plus 1 equals 2
Hi, ho, adding we’ll go. (Roll hands around.)
1 plus 1 equals 2
Hands Up Math
Trace around the children's fingers and cut out. Glue the palms to a sheet of paper. Do not glue the fingers because you want to be able to move them up and down to demonstrate addition and subtraction.
Hint! You might want to make this with one hand for the younger children.
Body Addition and Subtraction
Children stand and put their hands in the air as the teacher says a number. When they touch their heads the teacher says “plus” or “minus.” As they touch their waist the teacher says a second number. When the touch their knees everyone says “equals.” And when they touch their toes they say the answer to the math fact.
Adaptations: Tell number stories where children touch and tell the answer.
Addition Card Game (Stephanie Fowler)
Two children play this game with a deck of cards. The first child pulls two cards and adds them. The second child then pulls two cards and adds them. The child with the greater sum wins.
Magic Fingers
The teacher calls out a “magic number.” The teacher holds up numbers on one hand next to her chest. The children must hold up the correct number of fingers to equal the “magic number.”
Bear Hug Letter (Susan Finklestein, Montgomery, AL)
This has nothing to do with math, but it was such a clever idea I found when I was looking at old blogs that I thought you'd like it. Send home a note shaped like a bear that says, “My teacher is so proud of me. Give me a bear hug!”
Hurry back tomorrow for more hands-on math tools!