Order in Adding

Mr. Squeaks and Imani are getting ready for a birthday party! They want to make party bags for their guests to take home, but, they have a problem. Mr. Squeaks wants to add mini erasers first, while Imani wants to add sprinkles first. Will the order change the total number of goodies put in the bag? Let's help Mr. Squeaks and Imani solve this problem by learning about 'Order in Adding.' What IS order in adding? When we talk about order in adding we're discussing which number to add first in an addition equation. This is also known as the commutative property. You may have heard a grown up talk about commuting, this is another way to say travel. You know that cars can travel, however, did you know that numbers can travel as well? When addends travel, or commute, in an equation, it means those numbers have moved, or, rearranged. Remember, addends are the numbers that we are ADDING together. Even when you rearrange the addends, the SUM, or total, will always be the same. Let's see if order in adding will change Mr. Squeaks and Imani's party bags. Mr. Squeaks and Imani have different opinions about what to add first in their party bags. Let's have a look at the different equations and see what answers we get. When rearranging, or moving addends, always start by setting up an equation. Here our equation is ten plus eight. Next, solve using tens frames. Ten plus eight equals eighteen. Once you have solved the first equation, create another by moving, or, rearranging the addends. Here we will rearrange to create eight plus ten. Then, solve again using tens frames. Eight plus ten equals eighteen. Even though the addends commuted, or moved, the sum remains the same! Next, Mr. Squeaks wants to start by adding twenty-two flowers, but Imani wants to start with twelve seeds. How can we use order in adding to help them see their sum? First, set up an equation. Here it is, twenty-two plus twelve. Next, solve the equation using tens frames. Twenty-two plus twelve equals thirty-four. After that, commute your addends to create a new equation. Here, we can rearrange the addends to create twelve plus twenty-two. Use tens frames to solve this equation too! Twelve plus twenty-two equals thirty-four. Then, compare the sums, what do you notice? The sum is thirty-four no matter which addend comes first! Finally, Mr. Squeaks wants to add thirty-three mushrooms first, BUT Imani wants to add fifteen screws. How can they use order in adding to understand their sums? First, start by creating an equation. Next, use tens frames to solve the equation. Then, commute those addends and create a new equation! You can use tens frames to solve this new equation as well. Finally, compare the sums using tens frames. What is thirty-three plus fifteen? Thirty-three plus fifteen is forty-eight, AND fifteen plus thirty-three equals forty-eight!

Before we see those party bags, let's review! Today we learnt about order in adding. That's when you decide which addend to add first. We also learnt about the commutative property and commuting numbers. Remember, when addends commute, those numbers rearrange, but the sum ALWAYS stays the same. You can use tens frames to help add, whichever way round the numbers are! Now, let's see those party bags. "Oh no!" "Imani? Imaaani! I'm stuck in a bag! Help me out!"