Number Stories

📖 For Adults

Read the story aloud. Provide objects for student to act out the story.

Materials: 10 counters, small toys

How to use: Read story problem (e.g., "You have 3 toys, get 2 more"), student uses objects to act it out, counts for answer. Types: counting stories (how many?), joining (add more), separating (take away), comparing (which has more?). Key: make it real, use their toys, keep numbers small (1-5).

Introduction

A number story (also called a word problem or story problem) uses counting and numbers to tell about real-life situations. Number stories help us see how math connects to our everyday world!

What is a Number Story?

The Basic Parts

Every number story has: 1. A situation: Something happening in real life 2. Numbers: Amounts of things 3. A question: What we need to figure out 4. An answer: The solution we find

Simple Example

• Situation: There are birds in a tree
• Numbers: 3 birds
• Question: How many birds?
• Answer: 3 birds

Types of Pre-K Number Stories

Counting Stories

Structure: Count the objects in the story

Example 1:
"There are 4 ducks swimming in the pond. How many ducks are swimming?" - Count: 4 ducks - Answer: 4

Example 2:
"I see 5 red balloons at the party. How many balloons do I see?" - Count: 5 balloons - Answer: 5

Joining Stories (Adding)

Structure: Start with some, get more, find total

Example 1:
"You have 2 cookies. Mom gives you 1 more cookie. How many cookies do you have now?" - Start: 2 cookies - Get: 1 more - Total: 2 + 1 = 3 cookies

Example 2:
"There are 3 birds in the tree. 2 more birds fly in. How many birds now?" - Start: 3 birds - Join: 2 birds - Total: 3 + 2 = 5 birds

Separating Stories (Taking Away)

Structure: Start with some, take some away, find what's left

Example 1:
"You have 5 crayons. You give 2 crayons to your friend. How many crayons do you have left?" - Start: 5 crayons - Take away: 2 crayons
- Left: 5 - 2 = 3 crayons

Example 2:
"There are 4 apples on the table. You eat 1 apple. How many apples are left?" - Start: 4 apples - Take away: 1 apple - Left: 4 - 1 = 3 apples

Comparing Stories

Structure: Compare two amounts

Example 1:
"Sam has 5 blocks. Maya has 3 blocks. Who has more blocks?" - Sam: 5 blocks - Maya: 3 blocks - Compare: 5 is more than 3 - Answer: Sam has more

Example 2:
"Are there more red flowers (4) or yellow flowers (4) in the garden?" - Red: 4 flowers - Yellow: 4 flowers - Compare: 4 equals 4 - Answer: Same amount

How to Solve Number Stories

Step 1: Listen Carefully

• Pay attention to the story
• What is happening?
• What are we trying to find out?

Step 2: Act It Out

• Use real objects (blocks, toys, counters)
• Show what happens in the story
• This makes it easier to see!

Example:
"You have 3 toy cars. You get 2 more. How many cars now?" - Get 3 toy cars - Add 2 more toy cars - Count all: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 → 5 cars!

Step 3: Count

• Count the objects
• The last number is the answer
• Say the answer out loud

Step 4: Check

• Does the answer make sense?
• Count again if needed
• Feel confident!

Using Objects to Solve Stories

Counters

• Use small objects: blocks, buttons, coins
• Move them to show the story
• Count for the answer

Fingers

• Use fingers for small numbers (1-10)
• Hold up fingers to show amounts
• Add more or put some down

Drawings

• Draw circles or dots for objects
• Cross out for taking away
• Add more for joining
• Count the picture!

Practice Activities

Acting Out Stories

• Tell a story about toys
• Have child act it out with real toys
• Ask: "How many now?"
• Count together

Creating Stories Together

• Look at child's toys
• Make up a story: "You have 4 blocks. You build with 2 more. How many blocks?"
• Child solves with the toys

Picture Book Stories

• Read counting books
• Ask questions: "How many animals do you see?"
• "If one hops away, how many are left?"

Snack Time Stories

• "You have 5 crackers. You eat 2. How many left?"
• Real motivation to solve!
• Can actually eat them!

Number Story Keywords

Words That Mean Counting

• How many?
• Count the...
• How many altogether?

Words That Mean Adding (Joining)

• More
• And
• Plus
• Join
• Get
• Receive
• Altogether

Words That Mean Subtracting (Taking Away)

• Take away
• Eat
• Give away
• Left
• Remaining
• Lose
• Fly away
• Run away

Words That Mean Comparing

• More than
• Less than
• Fewer
• Same
• Who has more?
• Which has less?

Building Understanding

Stories Connect to Real Life

• Math isn't just counting for no reason
• We use numbers to understand our world
• Stories show us why math matters!

Stories Build Problem-Solving

• Think about the situation
• Plan how to solve it
• Try a strategy
• Check the answer
• These are important skills!

Stories Use Different Operations

• Some stories need counting
• Some need adding (joining)
• Some need subtracting (taking away)
• Some need comparing
• Learning to recognize which type is important!

Common Challenges

Not Understanding the Question

• Solution: Read/tell the story again
• Ask: "What do we need to find out?"
• Focus on the question

Not Knowing What to Do

• Solution: Act it out!
• Use real objects
• Show what happens

Guessing Instead of Solving

• Solution: Encourage use of objects
• Count together
• Show that math gives us the right answer

Getting Confused by Words

• Solution: Simplify the language
• Use familiar objects (their toys, their snacks)
• Keep stories short and simple

Tips for Success

Start Simple

• Use small numbers (1-5)
• Use familiar objects
• Keep stories short
• One question at a time

Make It Personal

• Use child's name in the story
• Use their toys or favorite things
• Make stories about their day
• This makes math meaningful!

Always Use Objects First

• Don't expect mental math yet
• Provide counters, toys, or fingers
• Physical objects make stories real
• Abstract thinking comes later

Celebrate Success

• Praise problem-solving efforts
• Celebrate correct answers
• If wrong, count together to find the right answer
• Make it positive!

Real-Life Number Stories

At Home

• "Set the table for 4 people. We need 4 plates. Count them!"
• "You have 3 shoes. Where's the other one? How many should you have?" (4 for 2 pairs!)
• "There are 6 grapes in your bowl. You eat 2. How many left?"

At School

• "5 children are in line. 2 more join. How many in line now?"
• "We have 8 scissors. 3 are being used. How many are not being used?"
• "Count the books on the shelf. How many books?"

Outside

• "You saw 2 dogs at the park. Then you saw 1 more dog. How many dogs did you see altogether?"
• "There were 7 birds on the fence. 4 flew away. How many birds are still on the fence?"

Connection to Future Math

Foundation for Word Problems

• Number stories are the first word problems
• Practice now makes later math easier
• Understanding stories is a key skill

Foundation for Operations

• Joining stories teach addition
• Separating stories teach subtraction
• Comparing stories teach relationships
• These become +, -, <, >, =

Foundation for Reasoning

• Stories require thinking
• Stories require understanding
• Stories develop logical reasoning
• This is essential for all learning!

Assessment Questions

Can the child: - Listen to a simple number story? - Identify what the story is asking? - Use objects to act out the story? - Count to find the answer? - Explain their thinking? - Create their own simple number story?

Next Steps

Once a child can solve simple number stories: - They're ready for more complex stories (bigger numbers, more steps) - They can begin to solve without objects (mental math) - They can write their own number stories - They understand how math connects to real life! - They have built a strong foundation for all future math problem-solving!

Number stories show us that math is everywhere and useful!