Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to apply basic arithmetic skills to solve mathematical problems while exploring the theme of mermaids.

Materials and Prep

• Pencil
• Blank paper

No prior knowledge or preparation is required for this lesson.

Activities

1. Mermaid Addition:

   Draw a picture of a mermaid on your paper. Write down two numbers on the paper, for example, 4 and 3. Count the number of shells the mermaid is holding and write that number down as well. Add the two numbers you wrote down and the number of shells together to find the total. Write the equation and the answer below your drawing.

2. Mermaid Subtraction:

   Draw another picture of a mermaid on a new sheet of paper. Write down a larger number and a smaller number on the paper, for example, 8 and 3. Count the number of starfish the mermaid is holding and write that number down as well. Subtract the smaller number from the larger number and then subtract the number of starfish. Write the equation and the answer below your drawing.

3. Mermaid Number Patterns:

   Think of a number pattern related to mermaids, for example, counting by 5s or counting down from 10. Write down the pattern and continue it for at least 5 more numbers. Then, challenge yourself to find the rule for the pattern and write it down.

Second Grade Talking Points

• "Today, we are going to explore arithmetic while having fun with a mermaid theme."
• "Arithmetic is a branch of mathematics that deals with numbers and their operations, like addition and subtraction."
• "We will start by practicing addition. We will draw a mermaid and add two numbers together, along with the number of shells she is holding."
• "Next, we will move on to subtraction. We will draw another mermaid and subtract a smaller number from a larger number, along with the number of starfish she is holding."
• "Finally, we will work on number patterns. We will think of a pattern related to mermaids and continue it, while also finding the rule for the pattern."