Story Problem Builders Teacher Guide
Kindergarten Math • 35-Minute Lesson
Story Problem Builders Guide
Focus: Concrete Manipulatives First Routine (CRA Progression) • Standard K.OA.A.2
Target Routine
1. Build ➔ 2. Draw ➔ 3. Solve
Total Time 35 Minutes
Key Tool Bags of 10 Counters
Story Types Take Away & Add To
Assessment Target Code C (Accurate Model)
Objective
Students will physically model addition and subtraction word problems within 10 using counters before drawing pictorial representations and writing the solution.
Materials Needed
Bags of 10 two-color counters or teddy bears, 1 work mat per student, Story Problem Builders slides, and student worksheets.
35-Minute Instructional Pacing
1 Fluency Warm-Up: Count & Touch (5 Minutes) 0:00 - 0:05
Target: Address one-to-one touch counting and cardinality (fixing row-counting confusion).
Action: Students take out their bag of counters. Call out: "Show me 7 counters in a straight line. Touch each counter and count: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7." Ask: "How many do you have?" Ensure students name the total cardinality, not the row count. Repeat with 9 counters.
2 Explicit Modeling: Subtraction / Take-Away (10 Minutes) 0:05 - 0:15
Story Problem 1: "There are 7 birds sitting in a tree. Then, 4 birds flew away. How many birds are in the tree now?"
Step 1: BUILD FIRST Put 7 counters on the mat. "These are my 7 birds." Physically slide 4 off the mat. "4 flew away!"
Step 2: DRAW WORK Draw 7 circles in a row. Slash through 4 circles with neat diagonal lines.
Step 3: WRITE & CIRCLE Count the remaining circles (3). Write 7 - 4 = 3. Circle 3 birds.
3 Guided Practice: Addition / Put Together (10 Minutes) 0:15 - 0:25
Story Problem 2: "There were 2 books in a basket. Then Mia put 6 more books in the basket. How many books are in the basket now?"
Step 1: BUILD FIRST All students place 2 red counters. Then slide in 6 yellow counters. "Did the group get bigger or smaller?"
Step 2: DRAW WORK Draw 2 circles, then draw 6 more circles next to them. Touch-count all circles: 1 to 8.
Step 3: WRITE & CIRCLE Connect to symbols: 2 + 6 = 8. Circle 8 books. Check partner mat!
Non-Negotiable Rule Hands on counters before pencils touch paper. Students must show the action on their mat first!
Page 1 of 2
Part 4 & 5 Facilitation & Rubric Toolkit
Story Problem Builders Guide
4 Independent Practice (7 Min) 0:25 - 0:32
Students solve Problem 3 & Problem 4 on their worksheet. Circulate with a clipboard using the C / I / X Rubric.
Circulation Checklist:
• Are counters being manipulated before drawing?
• Are drawn circles crossed out cleanly for subtraction?
• Did student record the correct final quantity?
5 Debrief & Wrap-Up (3 Min) 0:32 - 0:35
Gather students on the rug or focus on the board.
Turn & Talk: "How did moving your counters help you know if the birds flew away or joined?"
Mathematician Takeaway: "When we take away, our number gets smaller. When we put together, our number gets bigger!"
Scoring Rubric: Concrete Representation Code (C / I / X)
C Correct Model
Student uses counters to represent the exact starting amount, performs the accurate physical action (adding to or removing), draws matching model, and states correct result.
I Incomplete / Imprecise
Student understands the operation but miscounts starting counters by 1 (e.g. builds 6 instead of 7) or forgets to circle/state the final remaining amount after the action.
X Incorrect Representation
Student applies the wrong operation (adds instead of takes away), does not use counters to represent the numbers, or writes an unrelated number without a concrete model.
Assessment Errors & Quick Coaching Moves
Misconception 1
Counting Rows / Groups Instead of Objects (e.g. IA Item 4)
Why it happens: When objects are grouped in rows (like 2, 4, 3 band-aids), student counts rows (saying "3" or "5") rather than total quantity.
Coaching Move: "Let's move them into one straight train first! Touch each one with your pointer finger as you say the number."
Misconception 2
Jumping to Numbers Without Acting Out the Action (IA Items 5 & 10)
Why it happens: Students try to guess the answer or write random digits in the blank.
Coaching Move: Pause pencil use. "Show me your hands. Put 7 birds on your mat. Now fly 4 birds away with your hands! How many are still resting?"
Differentiation
Scaffolds & Extensions
Support: Provide a 10-frame mat so counters stay organized in 5-groups.
Extension: Have students tell their own partner story problem using 10 counters and ask partner to solve.
Kindergarten Math Interim Assessment Intervention Series Page 2 of 2
Story Problem Builders Slides
K Kindergarten Math Adventure
35-Minute Lesson
Story Problem Builders
Use hands-on counters to act out math stories, draw what happened, and solve!
1. Build
2. Draw
3. Solve
Standard K.OA.A.2: Addition & Subtraction within 10 Slide 1 of 7
★ Our Mathematician Routine
Golden Rule: Counters First!
1
BUILD FIRST
Put counters on your mat. Move them to act out the story!
Hands on tools!
2
DRAW IT
Draw neat circles on your paper. Cross out if items go away!
Show your work!
3
SOLVE IT
Count the final group and write your number sentence!
Circle the answer!
Wait for the story cue before picking up your pencil!
5m Warm-Up: Touch & Count in a Line
Cardinality & Touch Count
Take out your counters! Line up 8 counters on your mat:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Touch each counter once with your pointer finger!
The last number you say is the total: 8 counters!
Warm-Up Activity • 5 Minutes
Story 1
Birds in the Tree (Take Away)
10 Minutes Modeling
Listen to the story:
"There are 7 birds sitting in a tree. Then, 4 birds flew away. How many birds are in the tree now?"
ACTION 1
Put 7 counters on your work mat.
ACTION 2
Slide 4 counters off the mat!
ACTION 3
Count how many birds are still there!
Hold up your fingers: How many counters are left on your mat? Hands-On Build
✓ Story 1: Draw It & Write It!
Representational to Abstract
Step 2: Drawing Picture
Draw 7 circles. Cross out 4 circles that flew away:
✕ ✕ ✕ ✕ ● ● ●
3 birds are left!
Step 3: Number Sentence
Connect to math symbols:
7 - 4 = 3
Answer: 3 birds
Notice: We built with counters FIRST, then drew, then wrote!
Story 2
Books in the Basket (Put Together)
Story Problem Builders Worksheet
K Story Problem Builders
Solve with counters, draw your math picture, and write your answer!
Name:
Date: Room:
1 BUILD with counters first! ➔ 2 DRAW your circles ➔ 3 WRITE & circle answer
1
There are 7 birds sitting in a tree. Then, 4 birds flew away. How many birds are in the tree now?
Take Away
Step 1: Put 7 counters on your mat. Slide 4 counters away. I built it!
Step 2: Draw your circles and cross out the birds that flew away
Number Sentence: ___ - ___ = ___
Answer: birds
Teacher Initials: _____ Code: C I X
2
There are 3 frogs on a log. Then, 4 more frogs jump on. How many frogs are on the log now?
Put Together
Step 1: Put 3 counters on your mat. Add 4 more counters. I built it!
Step 2: Draw circles to show all the frogs together
Number Sentence: ___ + ___ = ___
Answer: frogs
Teacher Initials: _____ Code: C I X
Always build with your counters before using your pencil! Page 1 of 2
Story Problem Builders (Continued)
Student Name:
3
There were 2 books in a basket. Then Mia put 6 more books in the basket. How many books are in the basket now?
Put Together
Step 1: Put 2 counters on your mat. Add 6 more counters next to them. I built it!
Step 2: Draw the 2 books and the 6 more books
Number Sentence: ___ + ___ = ___
Answer: books
Teacher Initials: _____ Code: C I X
4
There are 8 apples on a table. Maya eats 3 apples. How many apples are on the table now?
Take Away
Step 1: Put 8 counters on your mat. Slide 3 counters away. I built it!
Step 2: Draw 8 circles and cross out the 3 apples that were eaten
Number Sentence: ___ - ___ = ___
Answer: apples
Teacher Initials: _____ Code: C I X
My Math Check:
I used counters first I drew my circles I counted carefully
Kindergarten Math Interim Intervention Series • Operations & Algebraic Thinking Page 2 of 2
