Story Math Quest: Adding & Subtracting Adventures
Created byNicole Durham
3 views0 downloads

Story Math Quest: Adding & Subtracting Adventures

Grade 1EnglishMath5 days
★★★★★
5.0 (1 rating)
"Story Math Quest: Adding & Subtracting Adventures" is a project for first-grade students that integrates storytelling with math to enhance understanding of addition and subtraction. Students create stories involving characters and settings where math problems are embedded into the narrative. Through interactive entry events and portfolio activities, students develop strategies to solve these math challenges, culminating in a presentation that combines their storytelling and math problem-solving skills. The project is designed to make learning math fun and meaningful by situating it within an engaging story context.
StorytellingMath IntegrationAdditionSubtractionCreative LearningElementary Education
Want to create your own PBL Recipe?Use our AI-powered tools to design engaging project-based learning experiences for your students.
📝

Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we creatively combine storytelling and math to make understanding addition and subtraction engaging and meaningful for young learners?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • How can we create a story to solve addition and subtraction problems?
  • What role does math play in telling or understanding a story?
  • How can storytelling make learning addition and subtraction fun?
  • How do characters in a story help us understand math concepts like addition and subtraction?
  • What strategies can we use to check our work when solving math problems in a story?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Students will be able to create a narrative that integrates addition and subtraction problems within the context of a story.
  • Students will demonstrate understanding of addition and subtraction within 20 by solving problems embedded in a story format.
  • Students will develop storytelling skills by describing characters, settings, and events within their created stories.
  • Students will learn to use strategies to check their work when solving math problems, enhancing their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Georgia Standards of Excellence - English Language Arts

ELAGSE1RL3
Primary
Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.Reason: The project requires students to create stories, which involves identifying and describing characters and settings, an essential skill in storytelling.

Georgia Standards of Excellence - Mathematics

MGSE1.OA.1
Primary
Use addition and subtraction within 20 to solve word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions, using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.Reason: This standard aligns with the project as it involves creating number stories using addition and subtraction, directly reflecting the use of these operations in storytelling.
MGSE1.OA.6
Primary
Add and subtract within 20, demonstrating fluency for addition and subtraction within 10. Use strategies such as counting on; making ten; decomposing a number leading to a ten; using the relationship between addition and subtraction; and creating equivalent but easier or known sums.Reason: Students will apply their understanding and fluency in addition and subtraction, critical to solving the math portions of their stories.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Interactive Math Adventure

Use an interactive digital platform to walk students through a virtual scenario where they must assist animated characters in solving problems using math. The journey will lead them through different storylines that require mathematical operations, engaging them with technology and storytelling.

Mathematical Storytime

Invite students to a magical storybook world where each page contains an enchanting narrative incomplete without mathematical solutions. Present them with a mystery that can only be solved by using addition and subtraction, sparking curiosity about how math can bring stories to life.

Math Detective Agency

Launch the entry event with a dramatic 'mission briefing' where students are appointed as math detectives. They're tasked to solve real-world mystery scenarios using addition and subtraction, making them view everyday situations as opportunities for mathematical storytelling.
📚

Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Setting the Scene

Students will create the setting for their story, learning how to describe different environments and integrating these settings into their mathematics story world.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Brainstorm different settings with the class that could be part of their math story, e.g., jungle, city, space.
2. Have each student choose a setting and create a detailed drawing.
3. Write a short description of the setting, focusing on key details that will make it come alive in the story.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA detailed drawing and written description of the story setting.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsSupports ELAGSE1RL3 by describing settings, enhancing creative storytelling.
Activity 2

Math Quest Plot Creation

In this activity, students will outline their story’s plot, integrating addition and subtraction problems that the characters must solve to advance through the storyline.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Explain the plot structure, emphasizing the beginning, middle, and end sections.
2. Guide students in plotting their story events, incorporating math challenges at each major event.
3. For each math challenge, have students write a simple equation using addition or subtraction.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA plot outline detailing the story's major events and embedded math problems.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with MGSE1.OA.1 by incorporating addition and subtraction into the storyline.
Activity 3

Math Problem Solving Workshop

Students will practice solving the math problems embedded in their stories, enhancing their fluency in addition and subtraction.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Provide students with practice problems similar to those they have created for their stories.
2. Discuss different strategies to solve these problems, such as using drawings or objects.
3. Allow students to work in pairs to solve and check each other's story problems.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA collection of solved math problems from their story, demonstrating various solution strategies.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsReinforces MGSE1.OA.6 by practicing addition and subtraction fluency and problem-solving strategies.
Activity 4

Narrative Presentation Day

The culminating activity where students present their math stories to the class, integrating storytelling with mathematics.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Have students revise their stories, ensuring the math problems are correctly solved and integrated.
2. Prepare a short presentation for the class, practicing storytelling techniques.
3. Students present their stories, focusing on both the narrative and the math components.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA fully integrated math and storytelling presentation.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsCombines standards ELAGSE1RL3 and MGSE1.OA.1, showcasing their ability to create narratives and solve embedded math problems within their stories.
Activity 5

Adventure Character Creator

In this activity, students will design their own unique characters for their story. This will help them understand the role of characters in their math storytelling, fostering creativity and engagement.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Introduce students to the concept of characters by reading a short story and discussing the characters involved.
2. Ask students to draw their own character, thinking about how the character might help solve math problems in the story.
3. Encourage students to describe their character’s personality traits and how those might influence the storyline.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA character profile including drawings and descriptions.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with ELAGSE1RL3, as students describe characters, a key storytelling component.
🏆

Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Story Math Quest Rubric

Category 1

Creativity and Integration

Assesses students' ability to creatively integrate settings, characters, and plot with mathematical challenges in their stories.
Criterion 1

Setting and Character Development

Evaluates how well students describe settings and characters, making the story world vivid and engaging.

Exemplary
4 Points

Settings and characters are richly described with creative and detailed elements that engage the reader, enhancing the story's imagination.

Proficient
3 Points

Settings and characters are clearly described with good detail, contributing to an enjoyable story experience.

Developing
2 Points

Settings and characters are somewhat described but lack sufficient detail to fully engage the reader.

Beginning
1 Points

Settings and characters are poorly defined, with minimal detail that detracts from the storytelling experience.

Criterion 2

Plot and Math Integration

Evaluates how effectively math challenges are integrated into the story plot.

Exemplary
4 Points

Math challenges are seamlessly integrated into a compelling plot with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Proficient
3 Points

Math challenges are integrated into a clear plot structure with identifiable sections.

Developing
2 Points

Math challenges are present but loosely connected to the plot.

Beginning
1 Points

Math challenges are poorly integrated and disrupt the plot flow.

Category 2

Mathematical Problem-Solving

Assesses students' ability to correctly solve and accurately represent addition and subtraction problems within their stories.
Criterion 1

Accuracy of Math Problems

Determines how accurately students solve the math problems embedded in their stories.

Exemplary
4 Points

All math problems are solved accurately and demonstrate a deep understanding of addition and subtraction.

Proficient
3 Points

Most math problems are solved correctly with minor errors.

Developing
2 Points

Some math problems are solved correctly, but there are frequent errors.

Beginning
1 Points

Few or no math problems are solved correctly, showing a lack of understanding.

Criterion 2

Use of Strategies

Evaluates how well students employ strategies to solve math problems, such as drawings or objects.

Exemplary
4 Points

Demonstrates use of diverse strategies to solve problems logically and effectively.

Proficient
3 Points

Uses multiple strategies to address problems with satisfactory effectiveness.

Developing
2 Points

Relies on limited strategies with inconsistent effectiveness.

Beginning
1 Points

Minimal use of strategies, showing limited understanding of problem-solving techniques.

Category 3

Presentation Skills

Assesses students' ability to present their stories effectively, focusing on clarity, engagement, and integration of storytelling with math.
Criterion 1

Clarity and Engagement

Evaluates clarity of presentation and ability to engage peers.

Exemplary
4 Points

Presents stories with outstanding clarity and engages audience compellingly.

Proficient
3 Points

Presentation is clear and maintains audience interest effectively.

Developing
2 Points

Presentation lacks clarity and only partially engages audience.

Beginning
1 Points

Presentation is unclear and fails to engage the audience.

Criterion 2

Integration of Narrative and Math

Assesses how well the narrative and math elements are connected during the presentation.

Exemplary
4 Points

Narrative and math elements are integrated seamlessly, enhancing overall presentation quality.

Proficient
3 Points

Narrative and math elements are mostly connected, with occasional gaps.

Developing
2 Points

Narrative and math connection is attempted but lacks coherence.

Beginning
1 Points

Poor integration of narrative and math elements, disrupting the presentation.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

How did creating a math story help you understand addition and subtraction better?

Text
Required
Question 2

On a scale from 1 to 5, how confident do you feel in using addition and subtraction in storytelling now compared to before the project?

Scale
Required
Question 3

What was the most challenging part of combining math and storytelling?

Text
Optional
Question 4

Which entry event did you enjoy the most, and why?

Multiple choice
Optional
Options
Interactive Math Adventure
Mathematical Storytime
Math Detective Agency
Question 5

Explain how your character helped you solve the math problems in your story.

Text
Required