One more, one less

If I give you one more, how many will you have?

MathAges 4–515 minutes3 pagesEnglish textInk-light

Being written

This one is planned but not finished yet. Everything below is what it will contain.

Skill: Adding and removing one, the beginning of arithmetic, done with objects
You will need: Small objects, Pencil
Your job: Check
Stage: KG2 · ages 4–5

Not drawn yet

I can make a group one bigger and one smaller.

How the fifteen minutes go

The five steps on this sheet, in the order a child meets them. This is what you will actually be doing, not a description of the method.

Print the one that fits today. Same skill, three depths — and on this sheet they differ like this.

Support

Up to 4, with real objects only, no writing.

Fewer items, more pictures, hints included, parent reads the instructions.

Core

Up to 8, draw the extra one.

The standard task, recognition, practice and explanation.

Challenge

Say the answer before adding. That is calculation, not counting.

Open-ended. Explain why, make your own example, use it somewhere new.

The same guide that is printed on the back page, so you can read it before you decide to print anything.

The answers

3→4 · 5→6 · 2→3 · 7→8 · 4→5, and one less: 5→4 · 3→2 · 8→7

If they get stuck

Use fingers. Three fingers, then one more finger. The hand teaches it faster than paper.

Common mistakes

Recounting the whole group after adding one. Normal, and the very thing that will fade.
Confusing 'one more' with 'one'. Use objects, not words, until it is solid.

When they finish early

At the table: 'you have three grapes, here is one more, how many?', every single day.