Equal Shmequal

Using Equal Shmequal to Teach Addition and Subtraction

The book Equal Shmequal by Virginia Kroll is a great resource for teaching the Year 2 Maths topic of Addition and Subtraction. Here's how you can use it:

Introduction: Start by reading the book aloud to your students. It tells the story of a mouse and her friends who want to play tug-of-war but need to learn how to make equal teams first. This relatable story helps introduce the concept of equality in a fun way.

Whole Group Instruction: After the read-aloud, move into whole group instruction on equality. Use visuals like a number balance scale to demonstrate what equal and not equal looks like, both with single numbers and simple equations.

Have students practice making their own equations that are equal and not equal using math flashcards and classroom objects. Draw representations of the equations to determine if they are truly equal.

Hands-on Activities: Reinforce the concept with hands-on activities like the Equal Shmequal partner activity. In this collaborative game, students work together to determine if equations are equal or not, practising addition and subtraction.

Other activities to try:

These engaging games and activities make practising equality fun while building fluency with addition and subtraction.

Differentiation: The Equal Shmequal resources provide a range of difficulty levels to differentiate instruction. Worksheets progress from simple addition to mixed addition and subtraction, and include equations with missing numbers.

By using the book Equal Shmequal as an introduction along with the accompanying activities, you can create a comprehensive unit on equality that builds a strong foundation for addition and subtraction. The relatable story and hands-on games make the math concepts accessible and engaging for Year 2 students.

Let's explore what math concepts are explored in Year 2

In Year 2 (ages 6-7) in England, students significantly expand their addition and subtraction skills within the number range of 0 to 100. They are expected to solve problems using concrete objects, pictorial representations, and mental methods. Students learn to add and subtract two-digit numbers, including adding a two-digit number and ones, a two-digit number and tens, two two-digit numbers, and adding three one-digit numbers. They are taught to recall and use addition and subtraction facts up to 20 fluently and derive related facts up to 100.

The curriculum emphasizes understanding the commutative property of addition and the inverse relationship between addition and subtraction. Students learn to check their calculations using this inverse relationship and solve missing number problems. They also explore different ways to partition numbers to support subtraction. The use of symbols such as >, <, and=is introduced to compare numbers. Throughout the year, students are encouraged to develop mental strategies and begin to use more formal written methods for calculations, while still having access to concrete materials to support their understanding.

The Year 2 maths curriculum covers several key areas:

The curriculum emphasizes problem-solving and reasoning skills, encouraging students to apply their mathematical knowledge in various contexts. Teachers often use a mix of concrete objects, pictorial representations, and mental methods to help students grasp these concepts.