For advanced learners: Have them create their own word problems and solve them using drawings and manipulatives.

For Struggling Learners: Provide additional manipulatives and step-by-step guidance for each task.

The main goal of this activity is to get students to understand and build equations from word problems within 20.

Essential Questions:

1. 4+3=

2. 8-3=

3. 5=7=, 12-4=

4. 9-6=, 9+6=

5. 15-7=, 8+5=

6. 12+8=

These essential questions help guide students through solving problems with different operations. It also helps them understand how to represent and solve problems with unknowns.

1. Use counting manipulatives (blocks or counters) to represent the apples.

2. Have students physically count out 4 apples, then add 3 more apples.

3. Count all the apples together to find the total.

4. Draw a picture to show the problem and write the equation (e.g., 4 + 3 = ?).

Instructions subtraction story problem:

1. Use manipulatives to represent the crayons.

2. Start with 8 crayons and take away 3 crayons.

3. Count the remaining crayons to find out how many are left.

4. Draw a picture to illustrate the problem and write the equation (e.g., 8 - 3 = ?).

1. First draw your balloons or use the manipulatives

2. Solve for the balloons.

3. Then write and solve for both equations.

Comparing Quantities

1. use your manipulatives or drawings to represent your cars.

2. Calculate your first question.

3. Then combine the two cars.

4. Use drawings or manipulatives to solve the equation that represent both parts.

1. Use your manipulatives or drawings to help solve the problem.

2. Solve for your apples.

3. Write and solve the equation in two steps.

Unknown in different positions

1. Use your manipulatives or drawings to help solve the problem.

2. Solve for your unknowns.

3. Write and solve the equation in two steps.