Click, Drag, and Drop To Model Kindergarten Story Problems

Ask any elementary teacher what their students struggle with most, and they will probably respond with STORY PROBLEMS! From kindergarten through fifth grade, students struggle with word problems because they haven’t fully developed the ability to visualize and model what is happening in a word problem to solve it, and we have to change that!

One way to make a difference is by starting them out young. And yes, that means kindergarten! The best way to help them build those visualization skills is by having them physically manipulate objects to model their thinking. By integrating manipulatives into the teaching process, we not only make math more engaging and accessible for kindergarteners, but we also set the stage for a lifelong love of learning and numeracy.

Model Thanksgiving Stories with Interactive Thanksgiving Activities for Kindergarteners

This new Thanksgiving story problem resource is the perfect way to blend a bit of Thanksgiving spirit into your math lessons. This Google Slides interactive resource uses Thanksgiving-themed story problems to have your students.

• Practice listening skills while the teacher reads aloud a story problem
• Manipulate objects to model and solve addition and subtraction story problems within ten
• Manipulate numbers and mathematical symbols to write a number sentence matching the story problem.

This resource is designed to run in EDIT mode within Google Slides. We recommend the Google Add-On called Fullscreen Interactive Google Slides to enlarge your screen, hide your toolbars, and make manipulating objects within the slide deck easier.

After listening to the story problem, call students to the board to model the problem for the class. A good idea would be to have all students solve the problem at their seats using counters and then take volunteers to model and walk the class through their thinking.

Download Your Thanksgiving Math Activity for Kindergarten

Get ready to wrap up those lesson plans! Unleash the power of your new resources with a single click. Simply tap the Download button and grab your copy of the Interactive Google Slides resource file.

This resource was created by Brittany Kellogg, a teacher in Ohio and Teach Starter Collaborator.

Need More Thanksgiving Activities for Kids?

Before you go, explore our related resources to enhance your Thanksgiving lesson plans even more!

teaching resource

I Am Thankful For - Sunburst Template

Help your students show how they’re ‘bursting’ with thankfulness using these printable “I am Thankful” for worksheets.

teaching resource

Printable Turkey Template Pack

Create a flock of fun Thanksgiving turkeys with a set of printable turkey templates.

teaching resource

Gratitude Tree and Leaves Template

Create a "Gratitude Tree" display with a printable tree and individual leaf cutouts.