EL Support Lesson
Nature Counting
Objectives
Academic
Students will be able to represent addition facts up to 10. Students will be able to explain addition within 10 using sentence frames.
Introduction
- Gather the class together and display a handful of items (e.g., buttons) to the students.
- Model thinking aloud to guess how many buttons you have by saying something like, "I started with two buttons and then I found five more buttons in my desk. I wonder how many I have altogether?"
- Ask students if they can think of a way for you to figure out the total number of buttons you have.
Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling
- Have students turn and talk to share their ideas, then ask several pairs to share ideas aloud. Provide a sentence frame or sentence starter for students to use in their conversation. For example, "I could ____ to find the total number of buttons."
- Record student ideas on chart paper (e.g., count all buttons together, draw a picture, write an equation, etc.).
- Model writing an equation and using pictures, while thinking aloud.
- As you think aloud, introduce or review the target mathematical vocabulary (using the Glossary) as needed.
Guided Practice
- Explain that now you will pair students together to practice finding the sum of two groups.
- Pass out a group of items to each student pair (e.g., five bears to one student and two bears to another student in the same pair), along with whiteboards and dry erase markers.
- Take note of student conversations and record ideas and discussions on the chart paper. For example, "I think we should each count our items first, then count them altogether."
- Gather students back together after 5-7 minutes and allow pairs to share their process with the group.
- Provide sentence frames as neeeded such as "We first ____, then we ____ to find the total."
Additional EL adaptations
Beginning
- Gather together a small group of students to practice finding the sum using additional problems (using math counters).
- Provide sentence frames for students to use as they share their thinking with the small group.
Advanced
- Have students create their own addition equations with sums between 2-10.
- Have students practice writing their own equations and checking their answers by counting.
Assessment
- Circulate around the room during pair and independent work time to note any challenges or misconceptions.
- Take note of student conversations and comments and record them for sharing with the class during the closing.
- Collect work samples to assess if students are able to accurately solve addition equations.
Review and closing
- Ask students to share with a partner their work. Provide sentence frames as needed. For example, "I used ____to find the sum."
- Share out with the group some ideas for keeping track while counting (number line, moving objects, drawing pics) using observations and notes from the group work session.
Related learning resources
Glossary: Nature Counting
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Glossary: Nature Counting
Use this glossary with the EL Support Lesson: Nature Counting.
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Vocabulary Cards: Nature Counting
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Vocabulary Cards: Nature Counting
Use these vocabulary cards with the EL Support Lesson: Nature Counting.
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Nature Counting
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Can be used as a stand alone or support lesson for the **Nature and Couting It All Adds Up** lesson plan.
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Counting for Kids
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Give your little gardener practice counting with colorful flowers! He will count different items and then fill in the blanks to describe how his garden grows.
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