Do your students need practice with using equations to represent number relationships? Are some of your kids in need of practice with addition and subtraction while others are working on mastering multiplication and division? Then this set of task cards and printables are the perfect resource for differentiating fact practice in your math class! The 32 task cards, 4 journal inserts, and 4 assessment activities are everything you need for building fact fluency in a fun and focused way.
Common Core State Standards for Mathematics addressed:
Number and Operations in Base Ten
Use place value understanding and properties of operations to add and subtract.
• Fluently add and subtract within 100 using strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction. (2.NBT.5)
Operations & Algebraic Thinking
Understand properties of multiplication and the relationship between multiplication and division.
• Apply properties of operations as strategies to multiply and
• Fluently multiply and divide within 100, using strategies such as the relationship between multiplication and division (e.g., knowing that 8 x 5 = 40, one knows 40 ÷ 5 = 8) or properties of operations. (3.OA.7)
This set includes:
• 4 graphic reference sheets (color and grayscale)
• 32 task cards
• two answer sheets (+/– and x/÷) with keys
• 4 assessment activities with keys
These cards are designed to help students identify relationships among sets of numbers. Each card presents the students with a set of four numbers. Three of the numbers can be related through addition and subtraction, and three of the numbers can be related through multiplication and division (with some of the numbers overlapping, naturally). All of the numbers on the card are less than 100, with the majority of factors being one-digit numbers, and 12 as the largest 2-digit factor used. Depending on the level of your students, you can ask them to show the addition & subtraction relationships or the multiplication & division relationships.
Differentiation is simple with the two included different recording sheets, allowing you to use the cards for multiple purposes. You may choose to have all your students examine the cards for addition & subtraction relationships. Alternately, you may have some students work on addition & subtraction while others work on multiplication & division. You can also choose to have all your students examine the numbers on the cards for multiplication & division relationships. Perhaps you can use the cards at one point in the year for one set of operations and later in the year, use them again for the other set of operations. Maybe you want your students to complete half of the answer sheet (such as the addition equations) on one day, and then complete the answer sheet (with the subtraction equations) another day. Make the cards suit your purpose!
The printables consist of four graphic reference sheets, each of which are half-page size, perfect for math notebooks, and four different one-page activity sheets. Two of the reference sheets focus on addition & subtraction, while the others focus on multiplication & division. The reference sheets show how sets of numbers can be related using given operations, as well as review vocabulary used when describing equations (e.g., addend, factor, quotient). Before you have your students complete the cards, you can have them glue the reference sheet in their journals. Your students can use the journal inserts as a guide while they work on the cards, as well as when they complete other tasks that relate to number relationships and operations.
The four provided activity sheets can be used to evaluate student understanding of number relationships. The worksheets were designed in pairs, with two covering addition & subtraction relationships and two covering multiplication & division relationships. The activity sheets in each pair are formatted similarly, and have similar types of questions, though the numbers on each are different. You can use these activity pages in a variety of ways. You could give one as a pre-test, then teach your lesson and allow students to practice with the task cards, and then give the second worksheet as an independent post-test. You could also have the students work on the task cards, then complete one of the worksheet as guided practice with yourself, a partner, or a small group, and then give the second worksheet as an independent assessment. The worksheets could also be given as homework, center assignments, or any other purpose that fits your teaching style or classroom routines.
There are lots of ways in which you can implement the task cards. You can have the students work on them independently, working through the task cards on their own. The students can work on them in pairs or small groups, completing all the task cards in one session. You can use them in centers, having the students complete 6-8 task cards a day over the course of the week. You can even use them as a variation of “problem of the day”, giving each student 1 sheet of 4 cards to glue in their journals and solve, one sheet per day for eight days.
Looking for more practice with number relationships? Try these resources –
It's All Relative – multiplication and division number relationships game
Bumblebee Paths, Frog Pond Frenzy - factors & multiples math games bundle
I hope your students enjoy these resources and grow stronger in their understanding of number relationships! – Dennis McDonald