The Adventures of Super Plus and Minus Man!

My firsties were having some difficulties when it came to problem-solving.  So, I recently wrote a unit called "Superhero Problem Solving Strategies".  I go over a variety of strategies for word problems including drawing a picture, using manipulatives, using a number line, and acting it out.  Today, we talked about circling key words as a strategy.

To provide students with a meaningful introduction to key words, I read the story of Super Plus and Minus Man to them.  It's an original poem I wrote.  

They loved it!!  They were shocked that I wrote it...they thought I bought it somewhere.  Basically, Super Plus comes running out to help math damsels in distress with their adding whenever he hears adding key words, and Minus Man comes out when he hears subtraction key words.  My unit includes a simple template for students to make the characters, but I prefer kiddie art.  I let the kids choose 3 colors of paper and they created their own superheroes.  They had a blast!  Then, they wrote the key words around the superheroes.  Next, we completed the Strategies mini book.

I also put Anchor charts up that will remain on the wall for students to refer to:

 

There is a mini book for each strategy taught, as well as strategy posters and a strategy ring for students to keep at their desks for reference.  You can check out the entire unit here:

Congrats to Lori on winning my Henry and Mudge reading trifolds.  I'm emailing you now!  I hope you can put them to great use in your classroom.  I finished the Junie B. First Grader trifolds and listed them last night.  Go check them out!