Are you ready to take your students deeper into addition and subtraction to 20 in a way that is hands-on, differentiated, and engaging? This is Unit 7 of my First Grade MASTER Math Curriculum, and it is designed around one core belief: students need to experience math in a variety of meaningful ways. This unit focuses on addition and subtraction within 20 using number bonds, number lines, ten frames, computation practice, and real-world number stories. Students begin by building a strong foundation with number bonds and visual models. Then they move into solving mixed addition and subtraction problems and finally writing their own number stories to show true understanding.
Like all MASTER Math units, this one follows a rotation model to keep students actively engaged. MASTER stands for Manipulatives, Apply Skills, Small Group, Technology, Enrichment, and Review. Each lesson begins with a whole-group mini-lesson provided in SMART Notebook and PDF formats. After the mini lesson, students rotate through purposeful math stations while you meet with small groups.
Let’s take a closer look at what is included.
Manipulatives
Students build understanding with hands-on activities such as building number bonds, using number lines to add and subtract to 20, sorting addition and subtraction problems, practicing fact families with dominoes, completing Scoot games, and building their own addition and subtraction number stories.
Apply Skills
This is where the fun really begins. Students play games like Domino War, Roll and Add to 10, Spin and Subtract Bingo, Spin and Add to Make 20, and Roll a Number Bond to 20. These engaging activities allow students to practice fluency while applying what they have learned in a meaningful way.
Small Group Instruction
Small group lessons target exactly what your students need. You will find guided practice for adding and subtracting to 20 with number bonds and pictures, number sentences, mixed fact families, number line strategies, vertical addition and subtraction, and solving and writing number stories.
Technology
Six digital activities are included in Boom Learning and Google Slides. Students practice adding and subtracting to 20 using number bonds, number lines, and ten frames. There is also practice with doubles and doubles plus one to build strong number sense.
Enrichment
For students who are ready for more, enrichment includes counting up, counting back, expanded number bonds, fact families, one more and one less, number grid work, riddles, and addition and subtraction challenges.
Review & Assessment
This unit includes review activities for number bonds, addition and subtraction to 20, counting by tens, expanded form, comparing numbers, base ten drawing, money with dimes, and place value understanding. Assessments, recording sheets, class progress tracking, and individual progress sheets are all included.
Lesson Plans Done For You!
You will receive 11 completed lesson plans plus 5 editable templates to create your own. There are 10 SMART Notebook warm-up lessons and 10 matching PDFs if you do not use SMART Notebook. I Can statements, standards alignment, binder covers, and rotation templates are also included to keep you organized and confident.
To wrap it all up, students complete two adorable cumulative crafts, including a Dog and Cat craft that reviews addition and subtraction to 20 in a fun and memorable way.
If you are looking for a comprehensive, organized, and engaging way to teach addition and subtraction to 20 in first grade, this MASTER Math Unit has everything you need to make your math block purposeful and powerful. Check out these other MASTER Math units, too:
- Comparing Two-Digit Numbers – Unit 6
- Place Value – Unit 5
- Geometry 2D and 3D Shapes – Unit 4
- Subtraction to 10 – Unit 3
- Addition to 10 – Unit 2
- Number Sense – Unit 1
