Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to solve basic arithmetic problems related to addition and subtraction using the context of Zoey and Sassafras Dragons and Marshmallows.

Materials and Prep

• Paper or notebook
• Pencil or pen

Prior knowledge of basic counting and number recognition is helpful.

Activities

1. Activity 1: Dragon Addition

Read a chapter from Zoey and Sassafras Dragons and Marshmallows. After reading, ask the student to solve addition problems related to the story. For example, if there were 3 dragons and 2 more came, how many dragons are there in total?

2. Activity 2: Marshmallow Subtraction

Provide the student with a bag of marshmallows. Ask them to solve subtraction problems using the marshmallows as manipulatives. For example, if there were 7 marshmallows and 3 were eaten, how many marshmallows are left?

First Grade Talking Points

• "In the story, Zoey and Sassafras had some dragons. Let's imagine we have dragons too!"
• "When we add dragons, we put them together to find out how many dragons we have in total."
• "Now, let's pretend the dragons are marshmallows. If we take some marshmallows away, we need to figure out how many are left."
• "Remember, addition is when we combine or put things together, and subtraction is when we take things away or find what's left."
• "It's fun to use stories and objects to practice our math skills, just like Zoey and Sassafras do!"