Introduce pupils to the concepts of addition and subtraction through the use of storybooks. Many students enjoy being read to, and books can be an effective introductory activity for math lessons. Read your class books written purposely to teach adding and subtracting as well as books that incidentally include addition or subtraction in their story lines. Choose books with entertaining stories and enjoyable illustrations to capture the interest of reluctant math pupils.
Help pupils understand the concepts of adding and subtracting by acting out scenarios. Provide pupils with food such as candy. Ask them to count how many candies they have. Have them eat a certain number of candies. Ask them how many candies they have left. Write down the equation for pupils to see. Demonstrate addition by giving pupils more candy. Create other scenarios by giving pupils pennies to buy pretend items.
Purchase or create bingo cards that display random numbers from one to 10. Provide each pupil with a bingo card and counters such as pennies. Call out addition or subtraction questions. Students must determine the answers and mark their cards when they contain the needed numbers. Pupils can also play the card game War using math flashcards. Two pupils turn over cards simultaneously. After determining the answers to the addition or subtraction questions on the cards, the pupil with the highest answer wins both cards. The game continues until a pupil has won all the cards.
Provide pupils with manipulatives to help them find the answers to addition and subtraction questions. Pupils can use the numbers on rulers to count back when subtracting and to count ahead when adding. The same strategy can be used with number lines. Number lines on strips of paper can be placed across the tops of pupils' desks for convenient access. Pupils can also use counters to help solve addition and subtraction questions. Purchase teddy bear or clown counters or use everyday objects like pennies or buttons.