Engaging Hands-On Addition Lessons for Elementary Students

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Hands-On Addition Lessons for Homeschoolers

Hey there, homeschool heroes! Struggling to keep your kiddo’s attention during math lessons? Well, buckle up because I’ve got a treat for you. Teaching addition doesn’t have to be a snooze fest. In fact, with the right activities, it can be a hands-on, interactive blast for your elementary-aged child! In this blog post, I’ll walk you through six engaging and hands-on addition lessons, complete with the materials you’ll need and step-by-step directions. These activities are tailor-made to help your child grasp the concept of addition in a way that’s as fun as it is educational.

1. Lego addition

Materials Needed:

• A variety of Lego bricks
• A base plate or flat surface

Directions:

1. Start by asking your child to pick a number to add, say 5.
2. Have them build a tower with 5 Lego bricks.
3. Next, pick another number, for example, 3.
4. Build another tower with 3 Lego bricks.
5. Have your child put the towers together on the base plate.
6. Count all the bricks together. That’s the answer—8 bricks!
7. Repeat with different combinations.

This lesson helps visualize addition as putting together parts to make a whole. It’s tactile, colorful, and can be adjusted for any addition problems. Make sure to use math terms (plus, equals, sum) when working together so they learn the correct terms for addition problems.

2. snack time math

Materials Needed:

• Small snacks (raisins, nuts, cereal pieces)
• Two small bowls
• One larger bowl

Directions:

1. Place a number of snacks in each of the two small bowls. For example, 4 in one and 6 in the other.
2. Ask your child to predict how many snacks there will be when combined.
3. Allow them to transfer the snacks from the small bowls to the larger bowl.
4. Count the snacks together to see if their prediction was correct.

This activity not only teaches addition but also encourages prediction and counting skills. This is a great activity for teaching the part, part, whole concept of addition. Make sure to use this terminology when modeling for your child.

3. playing card addition

Materials Needed:

• A deck of playing cards (remove face cards)
• Paper and pencil for recording

Directions:

1. Shuffle the cards and draw two.
2. Lay them face up and ask your child to add the numbers together.
3. Record the equation on the paper, such as 7 + 5 = 12.
4. Continue for several rounds, adding up different pairs of numbers.

This game can be expanded to include more cards for higher sums. If you want to invest in quality math cards that you can use for many years, I highly recommend WILD SIDE NUMBER SENSE CARDS. It comes with a book of number games that range from preschool-middle school concepts. It’s a really great resource to have on hand if you enjoy adding games in your lessons.

4. hopscotch math

Materials Needed:

• Chalk
• A sidewalk or any safe outdoor surface

Directions:

1. Draw a hopscotch grid with numbers instead of just sequential counting.
2. Write different numbers in each box.
3. Throw a small stone or bean bag on two numbers, one after the other.
4. Ask your child to hop to the numbers, add them, and shout out the total before picking up the stone and hopping back.

This lesson adds physical activity to learning, enhancing both mathematical and motor skills. For more ways to integrate movement into your homeschool lesson, head to THIS blog post!

5. nature walk addition

Materials Needed:

• Paper and pencil
• Small bag or basket

Directions:

1. Go for a walk outside with your child.
2. Collect natural items like leaves, sticks, or stones.
3. At different points, stop and ask your child to add together the amounts of two types of items. For example, “How many sticks and stones do we have altogether?”

It’s a great way to enjoy nature while practicing math. If you’re looking for more ways to take your learning outside, check out THIS blog post where I share 10 engaging outdoor lessons.

6. dice addition race

Materials Needed:

• Two dice
• Paper and pencil for scorekeeping

Directions:

1. Each player takes turns rolling the dice.
2. Add the numbers that come up on the dice and write down the sum.
3. The first player to reach a predetermined total (like 50) wins.
4. This fast-paced game helps with quick addition skills and can be a fun competitive way to learn.

If you have littles and adding to 50 is a challenge, there’s an alternative – addition wipe out! Write the numbers 2-12 on both sides of a whiteboard. Roll two dice, add together, and wipe away the answer. The first person to erase all of their numbers wins.

Who knew teaching addition could be so much fun? By using these hands-on and interactive lessons, you can help your child understand and enjoy math, away from traditional worksheets and drills. Each of these activities is designed to keep your child engaged, making learning a dynamic and enjoyable experience.

For more addition games and hands-on, engaging lesson ideas, follow me on IG. I share our everyday lessons and activities and the real side of homeschooling in stories everyday. Plus lots of activities that you can recreate in your home to make learning fun for you kids!

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