Watch for: Zero-subtraction error (e.g. 500 - 313 writing 213 or 297). Guide regrouping: 500 becomes 4 hundreds, 9 tens, 10 ones.
5 Annual Turkey Trot 5K
Key: 453 runners
Step-by-Step Equations:
Step 1: 425 - 58 = 367
Step 2: 367 + 86 = 453
Regrouping: 425-58 needs regrouping in both ones & tens.
💬 Script to Say:
"58 runners cancelled—did the starting line get more crowded or less? Then 86 new people showed up at the gate. What operation puts them into the race?"
Watch for: Student adding 58 and 86 first and then getting confused. Keep the chronological sequence of events.
6 Festive Cornucopia Gourds
Key: 365 gourds
Step-by-Step Equations:
Step 1: 176 + 238 = 414
Step 2: 414 - 49 = 365
Regrouping: Step 1: 6+8=14, 1+7+3=11; Step 2: borrow ones & tens.
💬 Script to Say:
"Room A and Room B both had gourds. Put them together to find the starting total. If 49 were cracked and went into the garbage, what does that do to the count?"
Watch for: In 176 + 238, forgetting the carried 10 into hundreds (resulting in 314 instead of 414).
Thanksgiving Math Feast • Paraprofessional Coaching Resource Guide for Page 3 Problems →
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Thanksgiving Math Feast • Problems 7 to 9
Page 3 of 4
7 Cranberry Bog Harvest
Key: 177 pounds
Step-by-Step Equations:
Step 1: 245 + 198 = 443
Step 2: 620 - 443 = 177
(Alt: 620-245=375; 375-198=177)
Regrouping: Step 1: 5+8=13; Step 2: 0-3 needs borrow from 2.
💬 Script to Say:
"Farmer Ben bagged cranberries on two different days. First, let's find all the pounds he bagged up! Then compare that with the 620 pounds he started with."
Watch for: In 620 - 443, student forgetting to reduce the 2 tens after borrowing 1 for the ones column.
8 Community Feast Chairs
Key: 387 chairs
Step-by-Step Equations:
Step 1: 310 + 145 = 455
Step 2: 455 - 68 = 387
Grid Tip: Ensure the 2-digit 68 lines up under tens and ones.
💬 Script to Say:
"They had 310 chairs and brought in 145 more rentals. Add those to get the total chairs brought into the room. If 68 are broken, can guests sit on them? Take them away!"
Watch for: Misalignment on the grid! Prompt: "Is 68 six hundreds or six tens? Put the 6 in the tens column."
9 Sweet Potato & Pecan Pies
Key: 139 pies
Step-by-Step Equations:
Step 1: 275 + 188 = 463
Step 2: 463 - 324 = 139
Regrouping: Step 1: 5+8=13, 1+7+8=16; Step 2: 3-4 needs borrow.
💬 Script to Say:
"People ordered two kinds of pies: sweet potato and pecan. How many total pies were ordered? The bakers finished 324 so far. How many pies are still left to bake?"
Watch for: Student adding 324 to the total orders. Prompt: "Did customers order 324 more, or is 324 part of what's already done?"
Thanksgiving Math Feast • Paraprofessional Coaching Resource Guide for Page 4 Problems →
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Thanksgiving Math Feast • Problems 10 to 12 & Accommodations
Page 4 of 4
10 Autumn Corn Maze Visitors
Key: 212 people
Equations:
Step 1: 285 + 345 = 630
Step 2: 630 - 418 = 212
💬 Script:
"Combine morning and afternoon visitors first. When 418 go home at sunset, subtract them to see who stayed around the bonfire!"
11 Marching Band Parade Roster
Key: 220 musicians
Equations:
Step 1: 195 + 42 = 237
Step 2: 237 - 17 = 220
💬 Script:
"The alumni joined the band (+42). Then 17 got sick and couldn't march (-17). Line up 42 and 17 correctly under the tens and ones on the grid!"
12 Leftover Turkey Sandwiches
Key: 166 rolls
Equations:
Step 1: 356 + 278 = 634
Step 2: 800 - 634 = 166
💬 Script:
"Find the total rolls used across Friday and Saturday. Then subtract 634 from 800. Watch out for double zero borrowing (800 -> 7 hundreds, 9 tens, 10 ones)!"
🛠️ Paraprofessional Differentiation & Scaffolding Toolkit
Tier 2 Visual Aid:
Draw two connected boxes (Part-Part-Whole or Bar Model). Have student write numbers inside boxes before setting up vertical math.
Color-Coded Place Value:
Have student lightly highlight the Ones column in yellow and Tens column in green on the graph paper to prevent misalignment.
Physical Manipulatives:
Keep base-ten blocks or place-value disks handy for students struggling with borrowing across zero (Problems 3, 4, 10, 12).
Thanksgiving Math Feast • Paraprofessional Coaching Resource End of Support Guide
