Unit Plan 1 (Grade 1 Math): Math Routines & Problem Solving

Focus: Build math talk, counting warm-ups, and perseverance with simple story problems and number sense routines; establish self-checking and error analysis.

Grade Level: 1

Subject Area: Mathematics (Routines • Problem Solving • Number Sense)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 45–60 minutes per session

I. Introduction

This launch week establishes community norms for listening, sharing strategies, and trying again. Students solve short story problems, practice counting and composing/decomposing numbers, and learn how to use tools (ten-frames, cubes, number lines) to make their thinking visible.

Essential Questions

• How do we explain our thinking so others understand?
• What strategies help me start and stick with a problem?
• How can pictures, tools, and numbers show the story in a math problem?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Follow and help maintain class math talk norms; listen, build on ideas, and ask questions.
2. Solve simple addition/subtraction story problems using drawings, objects, and equations with an unknown.
3. Choose and use representations (ten-frames, cubes, number lines, number bonds) to model thinking.
4. Use self-checks (estimate, act out, count again) and notice/repair errors.
5. Write or tell a clear because statement to justify an answer.

Standards Alignment — CCSS Grade 1 (threaded across the unit)

• 1.OA: Represent and solve addition/subtraction word problems (light introduction).
• Mathematical Practices (MP.1–MP.8): Persevere, reason, construct arguments, model, use tools, be precise, use structure, and look for regularity (all threaded).

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can show my thinking with pictures or tools and tell why it works.
• I can choose a strategy (count on/back, make a ten, draw, act it out) and check my work.
• I can listen and ask questions that help my partner make their math clearer.