How Many Cherries?

Addition and subtraction story problems are sweeter with cherries, cherry pies, and cherry trees.

• 1.

  Work together as a class to solve simple word problems involving cherries. Make sketches to use as a tool for solving problems.

• 2.

  Choose a partner. Select an addition or subtraction problem to illustrate and solve with Crayola® Construction Paper Crayons and construction paper.

• 3.

  Fold the paper in half. First draw cherries, cherry pies, or cherry trees to illustrate the problem. Use bold crayon numerals and symbols.

• 4.

  On the other half of the paper draw cherries, cherry pies, or cherry trees to illustrate the solution. Be sure to include the answer to the problem by making it big and bright.

Benefits

• Students describe and illustrate simple addition and subtraction situations.
• Children use drawings of cherries, cherry pies, and cherry trees to model mathematics problems.

Adaptations

• Each pair of children selects a flash card, creates a situation for the problem on the flash card, and illustrates it on drawing paper. Children share their word problems with other pairs of students, checking to see if solutions are correct.
• Challenge older students to work independently to create quizzes for classmates. Each student writes five word problems, then illustrate solutions on a second piece of paper using Crayola Crayons or Colored Pencils. Students exchange quizzes and solve ea
• Estimate how many cherries are in a pie. Eat the pie after counting and recording the number of cherries in each piece. Compare and chart different brands, noting the number of cherries as well as taste and color. Make your own cherry pies. Taste test different types of cherries.
• Younger children and those with special needs might use counters (such as beads or blocks) to plan and solve problems for cherry illustrations.