Mental Math Dash
Equipment list
List of premade addition and subtraction questions (numbers from 0-18 for grade two, and beyond for older grades).
List can be digital or print for display to class during the active lesson.
Explanation
Through active learning, the class will reinforce their prior knowledge of adding and subtracting numbers from 0-18.
To run the lesson:
Take the class outside or to the gym (depending on weather) and explain the rules of the lesson.
Step 1: Students line up side by side on a baseline
● Teacher will give students a number verbally
(After giving students numbers, make sure they know what number they are. For example, “If you are a 5 please raise your hand. If you are a 10, raise your hand. If you are a 15, raise your hand. If you are an 18, raise your hand."
● Once students have their number the teacher will stand at a reasonable distance away from the students standing on the baseline.
Teacher explanation to class:
○ Step 2: Teacher will explain we will play an addition and subtraction lesson
○ Step 3: Each student is going to be a number today.
○ Step 4: I am going to give you an equation, a sum or a difference (what does sum mean? What does difference mean?) and I’ll hold it up so you can see the equation and I’ll say it out loud.
○ Step 4: If you are the sum or the difference (keep your answer in your head), make your way to me (walk, run, skip, jump, etc.).
Re-iterate to the class that students don’t run if they are in the equation, just if they are the answer to the equation. When everyone who is moving gets to the middle, everyone can shout out the answer.
Detailed Instruction
Before starting the first round, the teacher will do a practice round:
■ “Alright grade two’s let's practice! For our practice runs you will all be the number 4. If our equation is 2 + 2 what is the answer?” (hopefully students says 4)
■ “That's right! So if your number was 4, you would come to the middle, and run back”
This lesson has three rounds:
1) Teacher will call out addition equations while holding up a card with the corresponding equation
○ Students will have about 10 seconds to solve the equation on their own
○ The students whose number matches the answer to the equation will run to the middle of the room, give the teacher a high five, and run back.
○ Numbers given to students: 6, 8, 10, 14.
Example Equations:
■ 6+4
■ 5+3
■ 4+2
■ 7+7
■ 7+3
■ 10+4
■ 6+2
■ 1+5
○ After 8 questions the teacher will assign the students new numbers and introduce the next round (round 2):
2) Teacher will call out subtraction questions while holding up a card with the corresponding equation
○ Same rules for round one, apply to round two
○ Numbers: 3, 5, 10, 15.
Example Equations:
● 10-7
● 11-6
● 15-5
● 18-3
● 6-3
● 7-2
● 12-2
● 16-1
3) Teacher will call out addition AND subtraction questions while holding up a card with the corresponding equation
○ Same rules for round one and two, apply to round three
○ Numbers: 5, 6, 8, 10.
○ Example Equations:
● 2+3
● 10-4
● 3+5
● 15-5
● 10-5
● 4+2
● 9-1
● 8+2.
Debrief Conversation with the class (Time to Share)
What math strategies did you use to find your answer?
● How did you feel about the lesson, was it fun?
○ Thumbs up, down, or sideways (in the middle)
● How do you feel about your addition skills?
● How do you feel about your subtraction skills?
ASK ID 2024-02-28-044-E