ALEX Learning Activity Resources

   View Standards     Standard(s): [MA2019] (1) 2 :

2. Solve word problems that call for addition of three whole numbers whose sum is less than or equal to 20 by using concrete objects, drawings, or equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.

[MA2019] (1) 3 :

3. Apply properties of operations as strategies to add and subtract.

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 and third numbers can be added to make a ten, so 2 + 6 + 4 = 2 + 10 = 12 (associative property of addition).
When adding 0 to a number, the result is the same number (identity property of zero for addition).

This activity is a task designed to introduce addition with three addends. The students use counters to represent the problem and begin developing an understanding of the commutative and associative properties of addition.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [MA2019] (1) 2 :

2. Solve word problems that call for addition of three whole numbers whose sum is less than or equal to 20 by using concrete objects, drawings, or equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.

[MA2019] (1) 3 :

3. Apply properties of operations as strategies to add and subtract.

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 and third numbers can be added to make a ten, so 2 + 6 + 4 = 2 + 10 = 12 (associative property of addition).
When adding 0 to a number, the result is the same number (identity property of zero for addition).

This activity is intended to be used as an assessment of students' ability to solve problems with three addends. The assessment includes a word problem and a performance task. The problems provide an opportunity for students to demonstrate an understanding of the properties of addition. 

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ELA2021] (1) 7 :

7. Apply knowledge of phoneme-grapheme correspondences and word analysis skills to decode and encode words accurately both in isolation and within decodable, grade-appropriate texts.

a. Produce the most frequent sound(s) for each letter of the alphabet, including x, q, and the long and short sounds of the vowels.

Examples: x= /ks/; q=/kw/; a=/ă/ and /ā/, s= /s/ and /z/

b. Decode and encode regularly-spelled, one-syllable words with closed syllables, open syllables, and vowel-consonant-e syllables, including words with blends in initial and final position.

Note: Consonant blends should include st-, sm-, sn-, -st, -ft, -lp, sl, cr, cl, tr, dr, nt, nd, mp, and nk, at a minimum.

c. Decode words with digraphs, trigraphs, and combinations, including digraphs ck, sh, th, ch, wh, ph, ng, trigraphs tch and dge, and combination qu.

Note: Some programs/experts call wh a combination, others call it a digraph. Use common language across the school/district.

d. Decode words with a after w read /ä/ and a before l read /â/.

Examples: wash, water, wasp; tall, all, talk, small, fall

e. With prompting and support, decode words with the hard and soft sounds of c and g, in context and in isolation.

Examples: c=/k/ before a, o, u, or any consonant and c= /s/ before i, e, or y; g=/g/before a, o, u, or any consonant and g=/j/ before i, e, or y

f. Decode words with vowel y in the final position of one and two syllable words, distinguishing the difference between the long /ī/ sound in one-syllable words and the long /ē/ sound in two-syllable words, and words with vowel y in medial position, producing the short /ĭ/ sound for these words.

Examples: fly, my; baby, happy; myth, gym

g. Decode regularly spelled one-syllable words with vowel-r syllables, including ar, er, ir, or, and ur.

h. With prompting and support, decode words with common vowel team syllables, including ai, ay, ee, ea, igh, ie, oa, ou, ow, au, aw, oe, oo, ew, oi, oy, and ue.

i. With prompting and support, decode words that follow the -ild, -ost, -old, -olt, and -ind patterns.

Examples: mild, host, fold, jolt, kind

j. With prompting and support, decode two-syllable words using knowledge of closed syllables, open syllables, vowel-consonant-e syllables, vowel-r syllables, common vowel team syllables, and consonant-le syllables, including compound words that fit multiple syllable types.

k. With prompting and support, decode words with silent letter combinations.

Examples: kn, wr, mb, gh, gn

l. With prompting and support, decode words with common prefixes including un-, dis-, in-, re-, pre-, mis-, non-, and ex-.

m. With prompting and support, decode words with common suffixes, including words with dropped e and y-to-i changes for suffix addition.

Examples: -s, -ed, -ing, -es, -er, -est, -en, -y, -ly

n. Decode contractions with am, is, has, and not.

Examples: I'm, he's, she's, isn't, don't

o. Decode grade-appropriate high frequency words that are spelled using predictable, decodable phoneme-grapheme correspondences.

Examples: saw, all, made, can, his, walk, let, open, time

[MA2019] (1) 2 :

2. Solve word problems that call for addition of three whole numbers whose sum is less than or equal to 20 by using concrete objects, drawings, or equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.

This activity is a game that allows students to practice addition with three addends and word building. Students build decodable and/or high-frequency words with letter tiles (a printable option is provided) and then find the sum of the word. They record the words and the equations on a recording sheet.

This activity was created as a result of the ALEX Resource Development Summit.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [MA2019] (1) 8 :

8. Solve for the unknown whole number in various positions in an addition or subtraction equation, relating three whole numbers that would make it true.

Example: determining the unknown number that makes the equation true in each of the equations 8 + ? = 11, 5 = ? - 3, and 6 + 6 = ?

[MA2019] (1) 4 :

4. Explain subtraction as an unknown-addend problem.

Example: subtracting 10 - 8 by finding the number that makes 10 when added to 8

[MA2019] (1) 2 :

2. Solve word problems that call for addition of three whole numbers whose sum is less than or equal to 20 by using concrete objects, drawings, or equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.

[MA2019] (1) 1 :

1. Use addition and subtraction to solve word problems within 20 by using concrete objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.

a. Add to with change unknown to solve word problems within 20.

b. Take from with change unknown to solve word problems within 20.

c. Put together/take apart with addend unknown to solve word problems within 20.

d. Compare quantities, with difference unknown, bigger unknown, and smaller unknown while solving word problems within 20.

This learning activity will provide online practice with solving word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, taking apart, and comparing with unknowns in all positions. The students will use strategies they learned to solve the problems presented to them in this engaging online game. This is a helpful tool to measure the students' application of skills.

This activity results from the ALEX Resource Development Summit.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [MA2019] (1) 2 :

2. Solve word problems that call for addition of three whole numbers whose sum is less than or equal to 20 by using concrete objects, drawings, or equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.

[MA2019] (1) 8 :

8. Solve for the unknown whole number in various positions in an addition or subtraction equation, relating three whole numbers that would make it true.

Example: determining the unknown number that makes the equation true in each of the equations 8 + ? = 11, 5 = ? - 3, and 6 + 6 = ?

[MA2019] (1) 1 :

1. Use addition and subtraction to solve word problems within 20 by using concrete objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.

a. Add to with change unknown to solve word problems within 20.

b. Take from with change unknown to solve word problems within 20.

c. Put together/take apart with addend unknown to solve word problems within 20.

d. Compare quantities, with difference unknown, bigger unknown, and smaller unknown while solving word problems within 20.

This learning activity will guide students through solving story problems. It will help the students unpack simple word problems with unknowns in all positions.  The students will use different strategies to solve problems. It will encourage the students to make sense of problems. This learning activity will engage the students so that they will feel confident in solving a variety of story problems.

This activity results from the ALEX Resource Development Summit.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [DLIT] (1) 1 :

R1) Identify, demonstrate, and apply personal safe use of digital devices.

[DLIT] (1) 6 :

R6) Produce, review, and revise authentic artifacts that include multimedia using appropriate digital tools.

[MA2019] (1) 2 :

2. Solve word problems that call for addition of three whole numbers whose sum is less than or equal to 20 by using concrete objects, drawings, or equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.

Seesaw is an online portfolio that allows students to document their learning.  Students can use Seesaw to add artifacts throughout the year. This activity is to have students solve a word problem and explain it within Seesaw.

This activity was created as a result of the DLCS COS Resource Development Summit.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [MA2019] (1) 2 :

2. Solve word problems that call for addition of three whole numbers whose sum is less than or equal to 20 by using concrete objects, drawings, or equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.

[ELA2021] (0) 2 :

2. Actively engage in teacher-led reading experiences and collaborative discussions with peers to build background knowledge needed to be successful as they learn to read and, later, read to learn.

[ELA2021] (1) 42 :

42. Participate in shared research and writing projects to answer a question or describe a topic.

a. Recall information from experiences to contribute to shared research and writing projects.

b. Gather information from provided sources.

[DLIT] (1) 5 :

R5) Locate and curate information from digital sources to answer research questions.

[DLIT] (2) 5 :

R5) Locate and curate information from digital sources to answer research questions.

[DLIT] (3) 5 :

R5) Locate and curate information from digital sources to answer research questions.

This activity is a digital breakout to enhance a unit with animal standards or for classes that have a field trip to the Birmingham Zoo. It can be used before or after the field trip or during the unit. It is an activity that will build collaborative and critical thinking. It can be used as a whole group activity for K-2 classrooms or for teachers/classrooms that are not familiar to digital breakouts. It can be an activity for small groups in K-5 rooms if students are familiar with digital breakouts. 

This Learning Activity was created in partnership with the Birmingham Zoo.