Center

Math Stories (K–2)

Stage 1: How Many?

Narrative

Students ask and answer “how many” questions about pictures and represent the quantity with a number.

Variation:

Pages of picture books can also be offered to help students generate stories.

Stage 2: Act It Out

Narrative

One student uses the background mat to tell a story that includes a question. The other student uses counters or connecting cubes to act out the story and answer the question. Both students draw a picture and write the answer to the story problem on their recording sheet.

Stage 3: How Many of Each?

Narrative

One student tells a story based on a picture. The other student uses objects or drawings to represent the story. Then students switch roles and use the same picture to tell a different story. After telling two stories about the same picture, students choose another picture and repeat. 

Stage 4: Add and Subtract

Narrative

Students pose and solve addition and subtraction story problems about pictures. Students write an equation to represent their story problem. 

Variation:

Pages of picture books can also be offered to help students generate stories.

Stage 5: Tape Diagrams

Narrative

Students pose and solve addition and subtraction story problems about tape diagrams.