Zero Hero Slides
0
Math Power
Zero Hero
Addition
The Power of Adding Nothing!
The Magic Jar
?
Jar A:
3 Pencils
Jar B:
Empty (0)
If I pour Jar B into Jar A, how many pencils do I have now?
Video: Adding Zero
Watch & Think
Embedded media
Pause 1
0:28 - Empty Pot
Pause 2
1:12 - Cubes
Pause 3
1:22 - The Rule
The Zero Hero Rule
Adding ZERO to a number
does NOT change the number!
5 + 0 = 5
0 + 6 = 6
7 + 0 = 7
The Empty Plate Activity
1
Put some counters on the FIRST plate.
2
Put ZERO counters on the SECOND plate.
3
Slide them together! How many do you have now?
Empty
Can you prove it
to your partner?
Are You a Zero Hero?
Explain the Rule
Draw your Story
Earn the Badge
"Zero doesn't change a thing... that's its superpower!"
Zero Hero Teacher Guide
Zero Hero Facilitation Guide
Kindergarten Mathematics: Identity Property of Addition
40-45 MINS
Objective
Students will demonstrate that adding zero results in the same number using concrete manipulatives and visual representations.
Materials
- 2 Paper plates per student
- Counting bears or buttons
- Zero Hero Slides & Video link
- Zero Story Sketchpad
1
The Magic Jar Hook (5 min)
Show two jars: one with 3 pencils and one empty.
Prompt: "If I pour this empty jar into the pencil jar, what happens? How many pencils are there now? Why didn't it change?"
2
Video Investigation (10 min)
Play "Adding Zero" video. Pause at these key teaching moments:
Pause at 0:28
"How many flowers in the second pot? What number represents an empty pot?"
Pause at 1:12
"We have 0 on one side and 6 on the other. What's the total sum?"
3
The Empty Plate Activity (20 min)
Hands-On Practice
- Give each student 2 plates. Designate one as the "Number Plate" and one as the "Zero Plate."
- Call out a number (e.g., 4). Students put 4 bears on the first plate and zero on the second.
- Instruct: "Slide the bears from the Zero Plate onto the first plate. Count them! Did the number change?"
- Repeat with 3 different numbers. Encourage students to explain why the number stayed the same.
4
Closure: Zero Stories (5-10 min)
Distribute the Zero Story Sketchpad. Students draw an addition story using zero (e.g., 2 cookies plus 0 cookies).
Zero Hero Extension: Identify students who can articulately explain the rule. Award them the "Zero Hero Badge" to wear!
Scaffolding
For students struggling with 1-to-1 correspondence, use a 10-frame on the number plate to help visualize the quantity and ensure accurate counting.
Challenge
Ask: "What happens if we have 0 on the FIRST plate and 10 on the SECOND plate? Does the rule still work? Why or why not?"
Zero Story Sketchpad
Zero Story Sketchpad
Draw your own Zero Hero math story!
Name:
Date:
My Story Picture
Write Your Zero Hero Equation
Start
0
Zero
Total
"I had some items, I added zero more, and I still have the same number!"
Zero Hero Badges
Zero Hero Printable Badges
Print on cardstock, cut out, and award to your Zero Heroes!
ZERO HERO
MATH POWER
0
--- Cut along circle ---
ZERO HERO
I PROVED IT
5 + 0 = 5
--- Cut along circle ---
ZERO HERO
ADD EXPERT
0 + 2 = 2
--- Cut along circle ---
ZERO HERO
I SOLVED IT
7 + 0 = 7
--- Cut along circle ---
How to use
Give these to students who can explain that adding zero doesn't change the number. You can tape them to shirts, pin them, or glue them to headbands!
