Real-World Applications & Project Ideas - Strategies to Add and Subtract within 20

Strategies to add and subtract within 20 - Grade 1

A globe with tools such as a map and measuring cup surrounding its border.

Real-World Applications and Project Ideas

Once students have mastered the skill in this toolkit, they can try out these relevant activities.

These are also great ideas for students who can do the math work above but struggle with explaining it.

Lastly, it is effective to have students solidify their understanding by doing hands-on and real-world applications.

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Early addition and subtraction skills are fundamental mathematical concepts that have numerous real-world applications. Here are some examples:

Grocery Shopping: When shopping for groceries, individuals use addition to calculate the total cost of items in their cart. They may also use subtraction to determine how much money they have left after making a purchase. If we had 14 dollars and spent $ 8 on groceries, how much do we have left? How much do we need to buy a $5 bag of chips and a $6 pack of soda?
Budgeting: Addition and subtraction are essential for budgeting. People add up their sources of income and subtract their expenses to manage their finances effectively. Save in a piggy bank.
Cooking: In the kitchen, addition and subtraction are used to adjust recipe quantities. If a recipe serves four people but you need to cook for six, you may need to add or subtract ingredients accordingly. If we need 3 cups of flour for cookies and we have one cup, how much more do we need? How many cookies do we need to bake?
Time Management: Addition and subtraction are crucial for managing time. Calculating the duration of activities, scheduling events, and understanding time differences all involve these basic arithmetic operations. If soccer practice is at 5:00 P.M., and it is 3:00 P.M. How many more hours until practice starts?
Measurement and Construction: Trades such as carpentry or home improvement require precise measurements. Addition and subtraction are used to calculate dimensions, adjust materials, and make accurate cuts.

Sports and Fitness: Athletes often use addition and subtraction to track scores, time themselves, or calculate distances. For example, a runner might use subtraction to determine how much time they shaved off their previous race. How many blocks did we walk? If we drive 5 miles one day and 6 another, how many total miles did we drive?
Travel Planning: When planning a trip, people use addition to calculate the total distance they'll be traveling and subtraction to figure out how much time it will take to reach their destination. Practice adding up pieces of clothing or toys for the trip.
Sharing and Fairness: In social situations, addition and subtraction are used to divide resources fairly. For example, if a group of friends is sharing a pizza, they may use division (a form of subtraction) to ensure everyone gets an equal share. If everyone gets 2 pieces of gum, how many pieces of gum do we need for 6 people?
Gardening: Gardeners may use addition and subtraction to plan and space plants. For instance, they may calculate how many plants can fit in a given area or adjust planting distances. How many seeds do we have? How many more do we need to put in a flower vase?
DIY Projects: Whether it's assembling furniture or crafting, individuals use addition and subtraction to follow instructions, measure materials, and make adjustments during do-it-yourself projects. If I have 14 inches of ribbon and only need 6 inches, how many would be left?

These examples highlight the practical importance of early addition and subtraction skills in various aspects of daily life. Developing a strong foundation in these basic arithmetic operations is crucial for later mathematical and problem-solving abilities.

Numeracy games to try:

Math facts memory matching: Matching pairs of cards with the math fact and the sum or difference.
Board games with dice: Roll and add/subtract on a game board. Variation if you roll a double, go twice to reinforce doubles.
Friends of 10: Mentally know facts that equal 10 (10 + 0, 9 +1, 8 + 2, 7 +3, 6 +4, 5+5)
Doubles facts: Mentally know doubles ( 1+1, 2+2, 3+3, 4+4, 5+5, 6+6, 7+7, 8+8, 9+9, 10+10) Try with dominoes, dice or make flashcards for each.
War card game: Each player pulls two cards (traditional card deck or number cards) and adds/subtracts based on the game rule. For example, the person with the highest sum wins or plays the lowest difference wins.