Apple Addition and Subtraction

1. 1

   Set out several apples and open a pretend fruit stand where your child uses addition and subtraction to fill orders.

2. 2

   Mom says, “Hello, shopkeeper. I want one apple, and Dad wants three. How many do we need altogether?”

3. 3

   If the answer is difficult, place Mom’s one apple and Dad’s three apples in separate groups, then bring them together and count four.

4. 4

   For subtraction, pretend Dad calls: “Dad changed his mind. He is returning two apples.” Let your child remove two and count what remains.

5. 5

   Once the actions are familiar, use fingers instead of apples so the quantities can be imagined with less support.

What to notice

• Uses apples to work out addition by combining and subtraction by taking away Operations and Algebraic Thinking
• Takes the requested apples after hearing that Mom wants one and Dad wants three Attending and Understanding

Tips

• If your child is familiar with written numbers, show how the actions can also be recorded as “1 + 3 = 4” and “4 − 2 = 2.”
• Many children progress from counting objects, to counting on fingers, to working with quantities mentally. Each step supports the move from concrete counting toward abstract thinking.

Developmental benefits

• Cognitive: Adding and taking away apples makes changes in quantity visible and helps your child represent addition and subtraction with objects or fingers.
• Language: Following a sequence of requests such as “Mom wants one” and “Dad wants three” gives your child practice holding spoken information in mind and acting on each part.