Addition

What Is Addition?

• Addition is the process of putting two or more groups of things together to find out how many there are in total.
• When we add, we are "joining" or "combining" amounts.
• The answer we get at the end of an addition problem is called the Sum.

The Magic Symbols In addition, we use two very important signs:

• The Plus Sign (+): This tells us to join the numbers together.
• The Equal Sign (=): This tells us the final answer or the total.
• Example: 2 + 3 = 5 (We say: "Two plus three equals five").

How to Add Numbers There are three easy ways to find the total:

1. The Counting All Method:

• If you have 3 balls and 2 balls, draw them all out.
• Count every single ball starting from one: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
• The total is 5.

2. The "Count On" Method (The Finger Trick):

• Keep the bigger number in your head.
• Put the smaller number on your fingers.
• Start counting from the number in your head.
• Example for 5 + 2: Keep 5 in your head, put 2 fingers up. Say "5... then count 6, 7."

3. The Number Line Method:

• Start at the first number on the number line.
• Take "jumps" forward for the second number.
• The number you land on is your answer.

Special Addition Rules

• The Zero Rule: When you add 0 to any number, the number stays exactly the same. (Example: 5 + 0 = 5).
• The Swap Rule: You can add numbers in any order and the answer will be the same. (Example: 2 + 3 is the same as 3 + 2).

Why Do We Learn This?

• It helps us count our money when we buy treats.
• It helps us know if we have enough toys for all our friends.
• It is the foundation for almost everything we do in math.

Lesson Summary

• Addition means joining groups together.
• We use the + sign to add and the = sign for the total.
• We can use drawings, fingers, or number lines to find the Sum.