Grab-Bag Addition

Last week I shared Grab-Bag Subtraction, this week we will learn Grab-Bag Addition.

Materials Needed: A Brown paper bag
                               Cubes
                               Recording Sheet
                               Partners
                               Ziplock bag of counters


 One partner puts some counters into a paper bag, naming the number selected and recording it on the record sheet.

I am putting five in the bag.
(record the number five on the sheet)

The other player does the same.

I am putting three in the bag.
(record the number three)

Both partners write the number combination on their recording sheets and predict how many counters are in the bag altogether.

Grab-Bag Addition

The children then pour the counters out of the bag and count them to check the total.
Assign a number to each group letting them choose from a collection of a given number.

Make different cube bags for students to use they 

don't have to use all of the cubes in each round

I recently read an article written by Kathy Richardson called Too Easy for Kindergarten and Just Right for First Grade. At the beginning of the article, she writes about selecting numbers for students to work with at math time.  Kathy writes:

My goal is to give all the children in a classroom activities that keep them thinking and working at the edge of their understanding. Even though my intent is to keep children challenged. I often find myself recommending smaller numbers than others might suggest. An ongoing question for me has been "What sizes of number are appropriate for children?'


Sometimes I assign everyone the same number to work with, when playing a math game. Reading this article reminded me that we need to provide opportunities for students to be working with just right numbers all the time. We do it so easily during reading workshop, why not at math time.

Grab-Bag addition is a wonderful game from Kathy Richardson.



Happy Counting!


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