Minds On
How many?
Polkaroo and his friend are making crafts!
Examine the following image of their craft stick house.
Brainstorm
Brainstorm
Try and answer the following questions:
- How many craft sticks make up the base (bottom) of the house?
- How many craft sticks make up the roof (top) of the house?
- How many craft sticks are used altogether?
Action
Adding on

Let’s learn another way to count!
We can count by adding together pieces to make a larger amount.
Explore this video entitled “Polkaroo Counts: Addition” to learn more about addition, which is another way to count.
Let’s count by adding!
Polkaroo is making a craft stick tree to go with Madison’s house.
Let’s try and answer the following questions:
- How many craft sticks does he use for the tree trunk?
- How many craft sticks does he use for the tree branches?
- How many craft sticks does he use altogether?
Examine the following image.
A 2D tree made out of craft sticks. There are two vertical sticks side by side that make up the trunk. There is a arrow pointing to the trunk and a label that says Trunk: 2 sticks. Coming out of the top of the trunk are five craft sticks that represent 5 branches. There is an arrow pointing to the branches and a label that says Branches: 5 sticks. Underneath the tree there is an equation: 2+5=7
Altogether, he uses 7 craft sticks.
Let’s count the sticks!
Polkaroo starts with 2 sticks for the trunk and adds on 5 sticks for the branches.
Check out the following number line.
We start at 2 and jump, or count on, 5 more numbers. That gives us the total of 7.
2 + 5 = 7
Brainstorm
Brainstorm
If Polkaroo started with the 5 branches and added on the 2 sticks for the trunk, would the total number of sticks change?
5 + 2 = ?
Examine the following image to help you answer the question.
Let’s add!
Examine the following craft of a dragonfly.
Answer the following questions:
- How many craft sticks make up the body?
- How many craft sticks make up the wings?
- How many craft sticks are used altogether?
Press ‘Answer’ to find out how many craft sticks were used.
1 craft stick for the body.
3 craft sticks for the wings.
4 craft sticks altogether.
Try It
Try it
Can you fill in the blanks to show how to add the number of body and wing sticks together to get the total?
_ + _ = _
Press ‘Answer’ to find out the missing numbers for each blank.
1 + 3 = 4
Consolidation
Mug craft
Polkaroo is making another craft!
He is making a mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows using craft sticks and balls of cotton.
He uses 5 craft sticks and 4 balls of cotton.
How many craft sticks and cotton balls does he use altogether?
Let’s add some numbers!
What is 5 + 4?
Use objects, diagrams, or another method of your choice to show your thinking and add the numbers.
Reflection
How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.
I feel...
Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.