Dots & Dots of Fact Families

Beginning

• Explain that the related addition facts are sometimes called "turn around facts" because the parts are both the same.
• Point to the four equations and tell students to share their observations with a partner using the sentence frames:
  • The equations are the same because _____.
  • The equations are different because ____.

Intermediate

• Review that "fact" means the same thing as "equation" or "number sentence." Make a connection between facts found in nonfiction books, and math facts (both are true).
• Tell student to turn and talk to a partner to describe how they are related to someone in their family using the sentence frame, "I am related to ____, because s/he is my ____." Ask students time to name relatives. Review content-specific vocabulary words (e.g. aunt, cousin) if needed.
• Explain that just like we are related, or connected, to people in our family, the numbers in the fact family are related.

Beginning

• Provide individual whiteboards and dry erase markers for students to record their thinking.
• Create an anchor chart for reference. Write, "+ plus sign, more, - minus sign, less, = equal sign, is the same as.
• Review the meaning of the symbols with gestures and examples. Remind students that they will have two addition (plus sign) facts, and two subtraction (minus sign) facts in each family.
• Read the fact family chorally as you point below each fact.

Intermediate

• Ask students to explain how they know that the facts they thought of are part of the same fact family. Encourage them to use content-specific vocabulary such as part, whole, add and subtract.

Beginning

• Guide students by asking, "Which other addition fact can I write with these same parts, 12 and 8? Yes, I can write the turn around fact, 8 + 12 = 20."
• Say, "Now I will start with my total, 20 and subtract a part, 8. 20 - 12 = 8. What other subtraction fact uses these three numbers? Yes, 20 - 8 = 12.
• Display the example for reference as students write the remaining fact families.

Intermediate

• Prompt students to describe the steps to write a fact family in their own words.
• Allow students to work in partners. Challenge each partner to write one addition and one subtraction fact so that each partnership writes four different facts total.