Learning Activity

Letter Tile Addition

Subject Area

English Language Arts
Mathematics

Grade(s)

1

Overview

This activity is a game that allows students to practice addition with three addends and word building. Students build decodable and/or high-frequency words with letter tiles (a printable option is provided) and then find the sum of the word. They record the words and the equations on a recording sheet.

This activity was created as a result of the ALEX Resource Development Summit.

Mathematics (2019) Grade(s): 1

MA19.1.2

Solve word problems that call for addition of three whole numbers whose sum is less than or equal to 20 by using concrete objects, drawings, or equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.

Unpacked Content

UP:MA19.1.4

Vocabulary

  • Addend

Knowledge

Students know:
  • The relationship between addition and subtraction.
  • how to explain subtraction as an unknown addend.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • use symbols such as blanks, boxes, or letters to represent unknown quantities in equations.
  • Communicate the connections between subtraction and addition.
  • Use the inverse relationship between addition and subtraction to find differences.
  • Choose and apply addition and subtraction strategies to accurately determine sums and differences within 20.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • addition and subtraction have an inverse relationship that can be used to solve problems.
English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 1

ELA21.1.7

Apply knowledge of phoneme-grapheme correspondences and word analysis skills to decode and encode words accurately both in isolation and within decodable, grade-appropriate texts.

Unpacked Content

UP:ELA21.1.7

Vocabulary

  • Phoneme-grapheme correspondences
  • Word-analysis skills
  • Decode
  • Encode
  • Isolation
  • Decodable, grade-appropriate texts

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Phoneme-grapheme correspondences.
  • Word-analysis skills.

Skills

Students are able to:
In isolation and within decodable, grade-appropriate texts,
  • Decode and encode words by applying phoneme-grapheme correspondences.
  • Decode and encode words using word-analysis skills.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Graphemes (letter symbols) represent specific phonemes (sounds) they can use to decode (read) words.
  • Phonemes (speech sounds) can be represented by graphemes (letter symbols) to encode (spell) words.
  • Word-analysis skills are used to determine how to decode or encode based on position, adjacent letters, etc.

Phase

During/Explore/Explain
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

Students will spell grade-appropriate words (including high-frequency words and those that follow decodable spelling patterns, such as CVC, vowel-consonant-e, digraphs, and blends).

Students will write an equation and solve addition problems with three or more addends.

Activity Details

This activity could be used as a center activity or as individual practice.

  • Students use letter tiles to spell a word. They can spell high-frequency words, CVC words, or you can have students practice a specific spelling pattern. For example, if the class is working on the /aw/ vowel team, students could make a list of words with that letter combination.
  • After students build a word with the tiles, they should find the sum of the word using the score amount on each tile. For example, the word "paw" would be 3 + 1 + 4 = 8. Students may use counters or manipulatives for solving the addition as needed.
  • Students record the word and the addition equation on the recording sheet. This sheet can be laminated for repeated use or copied to have students turn it in for formative assessment.
Assessment Strategies

Assessment Strategies

Evaluate student work to see if students are following appropriate spelling patterns. Use teacher discretion on misspellings or nonsense words if they follow previously taught spelling patterns.

Assess if students are able to correctly solve addition problems with more than two addends.

Variation Tips

You can challenge students to reach a specific total sum with their word-building (such as 20 or 30).

Students can compete to see who can build the word with the highest score or reach the highest total sum.

Teachers can provide students with word lists to focus more on the addition practice--spelling words, high-frequency words, specific words from a story, vocabulary words, or themed word lists (holiday, seasonal, etc.).

Background and Preparation

Background / Preparation

Digital Tools / Resources

Letter Tile Addition Recording Sheet
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1DJ1a9QW96IIXcF1LOzpYk4U15pDhv5Jqwfn_ksD…

Approved Date

Owner (Author)

seasley
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