Materials
poster board
marker
scissors (adult only)
Instructions
* Cut the poster board into cards.
* Create pairs of numbers from 1 to 10 from poster board. Laminate them for
durability if desired.
* For each number, draw and cut out a smiley face with the number as the
nose, except for the number 0. Also cut out a plus sign and an equal sign.
Make a frown face with the number zero as the nose.
What to Do
1. Give each child a number or a function card to hold; for example, a 2 or a
plus sign.
2. Explain that numbers are like a party the more there are, the more fun they
have. The only one who doesn't add any fun is Sad Mr. Zero because "he has
nothing to add."
3. This lesson should help the children learn that zero adds nothing to a number.
Ask different children to come up with their signs and make an equation using
one number and adding zero.
4. Each time, everyone can be sad and pretend to cry when Sad Mr. Zero comes
up because he has "nothing to add."
Teacher - to - Teacher Tip
* The more the children cry and carry on, the more they learn that Sad Mr.
Zero has nothing to add!
Assessment
To assess the children's learning, consider the following:
* Does each child understand the concept of zero?
* Can the children understand beginning equations?
