Review by Alicia Carter, Common Sense Education | Updated August 2013

Beginning Operations

Kids play with food to learn addition and subtraction

Subjects & skills
Subjects
  • Math
Skills
  • Critical Thinking
Grades This grade range is a recommendation by Common Sense Education and not the developer/publisher.
K–1
Common Sense says (See details)
Teachers say (2 Reviews)
Platforms:  Mac, Windows

Take a look inside

5 images
Players choose from 4 games: two addition and two subtraction.
In Apple Orchard Addition, kids pick some red and some green apples then find the total apples picked.
In Drive-Thru Diner Addition, players add the number of hot dogs and hamburgers made to fill each order.
Lemonade Stand Subtraction uses the number of glasses of lemonade poured and those sold to find what's left.
Cookie Muncher Subtraction lets players eat some of the cookies on the tray and then find how many are left.

Pros: Four games provide variety and interest; food-themed games are fun and interesting; a variety of skill levels provide differentiation.

Cons: There is no guidance if players are struggling, so players need to have some experience with the content before playing.

Bottom Line: These engaging activities provide players with practice in addition and subtraction, though not instruction in these skills.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

Beginning Operations is appropriate for users of many levels and types. Students could use the games for independent practice, either for advanced students' extension or for remediation (with lower learners). It would be an excellent resource for ELD students or students with special needs. The games will also work on an interactive whiteboard and could therefore be used for whole-class review and practice. A printable pre-test and post-test  are available also.

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Standards:

Beginning Operations is a series of four games designed to give practice in addition and subtraction to kindergarten and first-grade learners. There are two addition games, "Apple Orchard Addition" and "Drive-Thru Diner Addition"; and two subtraction games, "Lemonade Stand Subtraction" and "Cookie Muncher Subtraction." Players choose the game they want to play and then select a difficulty level (facts to 6 or facts to 12). Instructions for each game are available. The graphics and characters are fun and engaging, and the food-based activities have great kid appeal.

 

Beginning Operations is a fun way to get young children practicing addition and subtraction skills. The addition activities support learning by having the player count the objects being added (apples or hot dogs and hamburgers). In each case, there is a box that shows the numerals as objects are counted. The subtraction games support learning by providing visuals of glasses of lemonade or cookies being removed from the original amount. In these cases, the numerals in the subtraction equation also appear at each step. Equations are shown for each game, providing an introduction of where each part of an addition or subtraction equation comes from. The skills are built in, requiring players to complete equations correctly before moving on. When players answer incorrectly, the characters direct the player to try again. There's no instruction for users on how the skills are done, so players should have some experience with the content before playing.

Overall Rating
Engagement Is the product stimulating, entertaining, and engrossing? Will kids want to return?

These four games covering addition and subtraction for facts up to 12 are engaging and will hold the attention of learners in the target audience. Young players will enjoy the catchy graphics and games and will come back for more.

Pedagogy Is learning content seamlessly baked-in, and do kids build conceptual understanding? Is the product adaptable and empowering? Will skills transfer?

Addition and subtraction skills are age-appropriate and built into the games. Players choose from two difficulty levels on each game (facts up to 6 or 12), providing varied levels of difficulty.

Support Does the product take into account learners of varying abilities, skill levels, and learning styles? Does it address both struggling and advanced students?

There are instructions for each game at the start but no option for help in the middle of the game. Some games provide additional help by displaying counting cards as objects are used. There are printable pre- and post-tests for extension.

Common Sense Reviewer
Alicia Carter Homeschool instructor
About our ratings and privacy evaluation.

Key Standards Supported

Operations And Algebraic Thinking

  • 1.OA.5

    Relate counting to addition and subtraction (e.g., by counting on 2 to add 2).

  • 1.OA.6

    Add and subtract within 20, demonstrating fluency for addition and subtraction within 10. Use strategies such as counting on; making ten (e.g., 8 + 6 = 8 + 2 + 4 = 10 + 4 = 14); decomposing a number leading to a ten (e.g., 13 – 4 = 13 – 3 – 1 = 10 – 1 = 9); using the relationship between addition and subtraction (e.g., knowing that 8 + 4 = 12, one knows 12 – 8 = 4); and creating equivalent but easier or known sums (e.g., adding 6 + 7 by creating the known equivalent 6 + 6 + 1 = 12 + 1 = 13).

  • 1.OA.1

    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, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.2

  • 1.OA.2

    Solve word problems that call for addition of three whole numbers whose sum is less than or equal to 20, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.

  • 1.OA.8

    Determine the unknown whole number in an addition or subtraction equation relating three whole numbers. For example, determine the unknown number that makes the equation true in each of the equations 8 + ? = 11, 5 = _ – 3, 6 + 6 = _.

  • K.OA.1

    Represent addition and subtraction with objects, fingers, mental images, drawings2, sounds (e.g., claps), acting out situations, verbal explanations, expressions, or equations.

  • K.OA.2

    Solve addition and subtraction word problems, and add and subtract within 10, e.g., by using objects or drawings to represent the problem.

  • K.OA.3

    Decompose numbers less than or equal to 10 into pairs in more than one way, e.g., by using objects or drawings, and record each decomposition by a drawing or equation (e.g., 5 = 2 + 3 and 5 = 4 + 1).

  • K.OA.4

    For any number from 1 to 9, find the number that makes 10 when added to the given number, e.g., by using objects or drawings, and record the answer with a drawing or equation.

  • K.OA.5

    Fluently add and subtract within 5.

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Teacher Reviews

(See all 2 reviews) (2 reviews) Write a review
Featured review by
Ivy L. , Special education instructor
Special education instructor
P.S. 130 Abram Stevens Hewitt
Bronx, NY
Interactive addition and subtraction games for beginners!
I definitely think that this product is fun and engaging for the younger learners. I do not think this game alone would teach students addition and subtraction, but it can be used as a resource to reinforce the concept or for practice. While they do offer Level 2 - Facts to 12, my advanced learners got bored with this game pretty fast.
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