Story Builders Slides
Story Builders
Turning Bar Models into Math Adventures
2nd Grade Math
Addition Strategies
Mystery Model!
Look at this model. If this was a story, what could be happening? Think of a baker, a zoo, or a toy store!
Part 1
Part 2
60
30
?
Watch and Learn
Embedded media
The Baker
125 pies + 83 pies
The Whole
208 total pies!
Reverse Engineering
1
Pick a theme:
Baker, Zoo, or Toy Store!
2
Look at the Part Numbers on your sheet.
3
Write a Math Story that matches the bars!
Story Workshop
Share & Check
Read your story to a partner.
Can they find the two parts and the total whole?
Math Check: \( \text{Part A} + \text{Part B} = \text{Whole} \)
Story Builders Teacher Guide
Story Builders Guide
Grade 2 • Addition & Bar Modeling
Time
45 Min
Learning Objective
Students will create original addition word problems by interpreting part-whole bar models, identifying numerical parts and calculating the unknown whole.
Materials Needed
- Story Builders Slide Deck
- Story Shop Worksheets
- Blank Bar Templates
- Pencils & Scratch Paper
Lesson Flow
5
The Hook: Mystery Model
Display Slide 2. Present the bar model (60 and 30). Ask: "If this were a story at a zoo, what could the 60 and 30 represent?" (e.g., 60 penguins and 30 seals). Briefly discuss why the 60 bar is longer than the 30 bar.
10
Video & Discussion
Play the video (Slide 3). Use the following pause points:
- 0:29: "What are the parts? What is the whole?"
- 0:45: "Why is the green bar longer than the orange one?"
- 1:11: Estimate the total before the calculation appears.
20
Reverse Engineering Activity
Distribute the Story Shop Worksheet. Explain that they are now the authors. They must look at the bar models and "reverse engineer" a story that fits the math.
Support: Give struggling students a "Sentence Starter" card (e.g., "There were ___ monkeys...").
Challenge: Ask advanced students to add a third "part" to their story.
10
Partner Sharing
Students swap papers. The partner must read the story, find the two "parts" mentioned in the text, and verify that the "whole" calculation is correct. Encourage students to use highlighters to find the numbers in the story.
Concept
Part-Whole Model
Process
Algorithm
Solution
The Sum
Story Shop Worksheet
Story Shop
Math Workshop: Reverse Engineering
Name:
Date:
Mission: Look at the bar models below. Each one shows two parts. Write a math story to match the numbers! Then, solve to find the whole.
Scene 1: The Wild Zoo
50
25
Solve Here
Scene 2: Toy Town
110
45
Solve Here
Scene 3: Sweet Treats Bakery
75
62
Solve Here
Partner Review
The story matches the numbers.
The math sum is correct.
