Our Learning

Coin des mathématiques

Our math learning was extended the week before Spring Break, by a student question.  Students are comfortable in their knowledge of our math sentences (ie. 12 + 5 = ____ ).  We also know that 12 + 5 will have the same answer as 5 + 12.  

The class was curious however, as to what would happen if we needed to add three numbers together.  And so we got out our special 3-in-1 dice (eg. a clear shaker with 3 tiny dice inside) and our whiteboards..... 

This is a challenging concept for us, but we are learning that if we need to add three numbers together, it is best to start with just two numbers and then add the third number to get our final answer.  We also know that, the same as a math sentence with just two numbers, a math sentence with three numbers can be added in different orders.  Sometimes we start with the first two numbers and sometimes we start with the last two numbers.  We are using parentheses to show which two numbers we are adding first in the math sentence.  {ie.  (5 + 3) + 6 = _____  or  5 + (3 + 6) = ____  }