Ladybug Addition

Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling

• Project one of the prepared red circles and say, "This is a ladybug. It needs dots!"
• Draw dots on each wing (less than five dots per wing).
• Have students count the dots on one wing and write that number (an addend) below the wing.
• Repeat this for the second wing.
• Have the class count all the dots on both wings and put that number (the sum) on the line at the bottom of the ladybug.
• Read the equation, emphasizing the words "plus" and "equals".
• Explain that you just created an addition sentence.

Guided Practice

• Give each student a their own 'ladybug' and a marker.
• Tell students to draw five dots on one wing of their ladybug.
• Have them write the number 5 on the wing.
• Tell students to draw three dots on the other wing and write the number 3 on the second wing.
• Have them count up the total dots and put that number on the bottom.

Independent working time

• Provide each student with a second Ladybug.
• Have each student come up with their own addition sentence (but make sure you tell them to draw five dots or less on each wing).