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Level One > Number and Algebra

Buttons and Bears

Keywords:
Achievement Objectives:

Achievement Objective: Use a range of counting, grouping, and equal-sharing strategies with whole numbers and fractions.

Specific Learning Outcomes: 

Count groups of three to 15

Use equipment to model and add sets of three

Devise and use problem solving strategies (act it out, draw a picture)

Description of mathematics: 

This problem involves repeated addition which is a prelude to multiplication.. It can lead to counting by threes.

Required Resource Materials: 
Teddy bears
Buttons
Copymaster of the problem (English)
Copymaster of the problem (Māori)
Activity: 

The Problem

Mother Bear is making her 5 bear cubs new coats.  The coats have 3 buttons each. How many buttons does Mother Bear need?

Teaching Sequence

  1. Read the problem to the class.
  2. Ask the students to identify the important information in the problem – highlight these.
  3. Brainstorm for ways to solve the problem.
  4. If they suggest drawing a picture encourage them to think about the details required in the drawing to solve the problem. It is common for young students to "get lost" in the details of their drawings and lose focus on the problem.
  5. Let the students solve the problem in pairs. As they work encourage them to explain what they are doing.
  6. Share solutions.

Extension to the problem

If there were five bear cubs in the family how many buttons would Mother Bear need to buy?

Other contexts for the problem

Triceratops and horns (3 horns per dinosaur)
Wheels on tricycles
Insect bites (3 bites per student)

Solution

15 (3..6..9..12..15)
The students may be able to skip count in threes to 15 or may group the buttons into 5 groups of 3 and then count in ones to 15.

AttachmentSize
ButtonsAndBears.pdf49.38 KB
ButtonsAndBearsMaori.pdf59 KB

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