Math activity
Multi-Digit Operations Challenge
Practice adding and subtracting within 10 using fingers, counters, and drawings. Make math stories with toys.
Materials and setup
- pencil
- paper
- counters or small toys
- number line
How this changes by age
Pre-K (ages 3–4)
Practice adding and subtracting within 10 using fingers, counters, and drawings. Make math stories with toys.
Steps
- Use 10 small toys or counters. Start with 3 and add 2 more. How many now?
- Practice 5 addition problems within 10 using fingers or counters.
- Now try taking away: start with 7 and take away 3. How many left?
- Practice 5 subtraction problems within 10.
- Tell math stories: '4 ducks were swimming, 2 more came. How many ducks now?'
- Tell a grown-up one thing that surprised you.
Learning objectives
- Add within 10 using concrete objects
- Subtract within 10 using concrete objects
- Create and solve simple addition and subtraction story problems
Kindergarten (ages 5–6)
Solve addition and subtraction problems within 20. Use number lines, ten frames, and drawings to show your work.
Steps
- Solve 5 addition problems within 20 using a number line (start at one number, hop forward).
- Solve 5 subtraction problems within 20 using a ten frame.
- Practice 'making 10' strategy: 8 + 5 = 8 + 2 + 3 = 10 + 3 = 13.
- Write 3 number sentences to match word problems you create.
- Check your work by using a different strategy (if you used number line, check with counters).
- Tell a grown-up one thing that surprised you.
Learning objectives
- Add and subtract fluently within 20
- Use the 'making 10' strategy for efficient addition
- Represent operations on number lines and ten frames
Early elementary (ages 6–8)
Master multi-digit addition and subtraction with regrouping. Solve 3-digit problems and check work using inverse operations.
Steps
- Review the standard algorithm for addition with regrouping (carrying). Solve 5 problems with 3-digit numbers.
- Review subtraction with regrouping (borrowing). Solve 5 problems with 3-digit numbers.
- Check each answer using the inverse operation (if you subtracted, add to check).
- Solve 3 multi-step word problems requiring both addition and subtraction.
- Estimate each answer before solving using rounding. How close was your estimate?
- Create and solve 2 of your own word problems using 3-digit addition and subtraction.
- In one sentence, tell a parent or sibling what surprised you today.
Learning objectives
- Add and subtract 3-digit numbers with regrouping
- Check solutions using inverse operations
- Estimate sums and differences using rounding
Upper elementary (ages 8–10)
Fluently multiply and divide multi-digit numbers. Solve complex word problems requiring multiple operations and apply order of operations.
Steps
- Solve 5 multi-digit multiplication problems (3-digit by 2-digit) using the standard algorithm.
- Solve 5 long division problems with remainders. Express remainders as fractions.
- Apply order of operations (PEMDAS) to solve 8 expressions with multiple operations.
- Solve 4 multi-step word problems that require choosing and sequencing operations.
- Estimate products and quotients using compatible numbers. Compare estimates to exact answers.
- Create a 'Math Challenge' worksheet with 5 problems for a family member, including an answer key.
- In one sentence, tell a parent or sibling what surprised you today.
Learning objectives
- Multiply multi-digit numbers using the standard algorithm
- Divide with remainders and express them as fractions
- Apply order of operations to multi-step expressions
Safety and evidence note
Read the full activity before beginning. An adult should supervise tools, heat, food, outdoor work, movement, and experiments as appropriate. Completion records that the activity was done; the child’s explanation, work sample, photo, or demonstration is stronger evidence of learning than a completion check alone.
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