Joining Groups Adding
Part of the Math for Young Minds curriculum — designed for neurodivergent students, grounded in real-world examples.
📋 Session plan (for teachers)
Session 5 — Joining groups (adding)
Kindergarten · Math for Young Minds Total time: ~18 minutes Common Core: K.OA.A.1, K.OA.A.2 Today's idea: When we put two groups together, we add. The total is how many we have altogether.
What students will be able to do
By the end of this session, the student can:
- Put two groups together to make a bigger group.
- Say the total — how many altogether.
- Read and write a simple adding sentence like 3 + 2 = 5.
Materials
- Counters in two colors for each student (red and blue cubes work great)
- Worksheet (one per student)
- Pencil
Substitution: No cubes? Use two kinds of beans, two colors of buttons, pasta and cereal, or even small toys in two piles. Anything you have 5–10 of, in two clear groups.
New words
| Word | Meaning we use in class |
|---|---|
| add | Put two groups together. |
| plus / + | The sign for adding. We read it as "plus." |
| total / altogether | How many there are after we put both groups together. |
That's the entire vocabulary for today. No other terms.
Heads-up — common confusions
- Starting over at 1. A child may push two piles together, then count every cube from one. That works, but show them they can count on — start at the first total and keep going. "You already know it's 3. Now keep going: four, five."
- Reading + as something else. Some kids will guess + is a different sign. For now, + just means "plus" or "put together."
- Order surprise. A child may notice that 3 + 2 and 2 + 3 both give 5. That's a wonderful discovery. Smile and say "Yes!" Don't drill it.
Plan
1 · Hello & today's idea — 2 min
"Today we're going to add. Adding means putting two groups together."
Put 3 red cubes on the table. Then put 2 blue cubes next to them.
"Look — one pile, and another pile."
Push them together with your hands.
"Now they're one big group. That's adding."
Count slowly, pointing: "One, two, three, four, five. Five cubes altogether."
2 · Hands-on explore — 5 min
Give each student a small handful of red cubes and a small handful of blue cubes.
"Make a pile of 3 red cubes. Now make a pile of 2 blue cubes."
Wait. Walk around. Help any student who needs it.
"Now push them together. How many altogether? Point and count."
Listen for the total. Watch for:
- Are they pushing the piles together?
- Are they pointing at each cube once?
- Do they say the last number as the total?
Try one more together: 4 red and 1 blue. Push them together. Count.
"How many altogether?" Wait. "Five. That's the total."
3 · Connect to the math — 4 min
At the board, draw 3 dots. Then a +. Then 2 dots. Then =. Then a blank.
"This sign is plus. It means add — put together."
Point at the whole line.
"Three plus two equals… let's find out."
Count all the dots together: "One, two, three, four, five."
"Three plus two equals five."
Write 5 in the blank: 3 + 2 = 5.
"This is an adding sentence. We read it: three plus two equals five."
Have the class say it with you, slowly.
4 · Practice with support — 5 min
Pass out the worksheet. Keep the cubes out — kids can use them anytime.
Problem 1 — together. Read aloud:
"You have 3 red cubes and 2 blue cubes. How many cubes altogether?"
Build it with cubes at the front. Push together. Count. Write 3 + 2 = 5 on the board.
Problem 2 — solo.
"4 apples in one pile, 1 apple in another. How many apples altogether?"
Let students use cubes if they want. Walk around. Answer: 5.
Problem 3 — solo.
"2 plus 5 equals what? Use your cubes if you need them."
Build 2, build 5, push together, count. Answer: 7.
Problem 4 — stretch.
"Make up your own adding story. Tell a grown-up at home tonight."
If kids want to share one out loud, listen and smile.
5 · What we did + Try at home — 2 min
"Today you learned how to add. You put two groups together. The total is how many altogether."
Hold up 2 fingers on one hand and 3 on the other. Push them together.
"Two plus three equals…?" Wait. "Five. You did it."
Wave the family guide.
"Tonight, find two little piles of something. Maybe 2 spoons and 3 forks. Or your shoes and a sister's shoes. Or some red candies and some blue ones. Put them together. How many altogether?"
Observation rubric — what to notice in this session
Use this during the session, not as a test. One observation per student is plenty.
| Where the student is | What you'd see |
|---|---|
| Developing | Needs help pushing piles together. May count one pile and forget the other. Recounts from 1 each time. |
| Using | Pushes two groups together. Counts all and says the total. Can read 3 + 2 = 5 out loud. |
| Extending | Counts on from the first number instead of starting over. Notices that 3 + 2 and 2 + 3 give the same total. |
No fail state. "Developing" today is "using" next week.
What's next (Session 6)
In Session 6 — Taking away (subtracting), we flip today around. Today we put groups together. Next time, we take some away — like eating snacks from a pile and seeing how many are left.
✏️ Worksheet (for students)
Math for Young Minds · Kindergarten
5 · Joining groups (adding)
[ Hello ] → [ Explore ] → [ Connect ] → [ Practice ← we are here ] → [ Try at home ]
My name: _____________________________
Today
Put two groups together. Count them all. That is the total.
+ means plus — put together.
We did this one together
🟥 🟥 🟥 + 🟦 🟦
3 + 2 = 5
Problem 1 — together
You have 3 red cubes and 2 blue cubes.
🟥 🟥 🟥 + 🟦 🟦
How many altogether? Put your cubes here:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
➤ Write the total: 3 + 2 = ____
Problem 2 — on your own
4 apples in one pile. 1 apple in another.
🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎 + 🍎
Put them together here:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
➤ How many altogether? Circle the number:
┌──────┐ ┌──────┐ ┌──────┐ ┌──────┐ ┌──────┐
│ 3 │ │ 4 │ │ 5 │ │ 6 │ │ 7 │
└──────┘ └──────┘ └──────┘ └──────┘ └──────┘
Problem 3 — on your own
2 + 5 = ?
Use cubes if you need to. Draw them here:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
➤ Circle the total:
┌──────┐ ┌──────┐ ┌──────┐ ┌──────┐ ┌──────┐
│ 5 │ │ 6 │ │ 7 │ │ 8 │ │ 9 │
└──────┘ └──────┘ └──────┘ └──────┘ └──────┘
Problem 4 — stretch
Make up your own adding story!
Draw your two groups:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ │
│ group 1 group 2 │
│ │
│ + │
│ │
│ │
│ │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Tell a grown-up at home: ____ + ____ = ____
Today's words
| word | what it means |
|---|---|
| add | put two groups together |
| plus + | the sign for adding — we say "plus" |
| total / altogether | how many after we put both groups together |
🏠 Try at home tonight
Find two small piles of something. Put them together. How many altogether?
- 🥄 2 spoons + 🍴 3 forks
- 👟 your shoes + 👟 a sibling's shoes
- 🔴 red M&Ms + 🔵 blue M&Ms
- 📕 books on the floor + 📘 books on the bed
Put them together. Count them all. Say the total!
Next time: 🍪 → 🍪 ... we will take some away!
🏠 Family guide (for parents)
Math for Young Minds · Kindergarten · Session 5
Tonight: put two small piles together
What your child did today
In class today, we practiced adding — putting two groups together to make a bigger group.
We used red and blue cubes. We put 3 of one color and 2 of the other together, and asked, "How many altogether?"
We also met the + sign for the first time, and read sentences like 3 + 2 = 5 out loud.
The big idea: when you join two groups, you get one new total.
Why this matters
Adding is the first time math becomes a little story: some, and some more, and now how many?
Most kids start by counting everything from 1 again. That's normal. Over time, they learn to "count on" from the first number — start at 3, then say "4, 5." That shift is a big deal, and it happens on its own with practice.
We are not in a rush. Understanding comes before speed.
🏠 Try this tonight (1 minute)
Find two small piles of something. Put them together. Ask, "How many altogether?"
| Easy starters |
|---|
| 2 spoons and 3 forks |
| Your shoes and a sibling's shoes |
| Red M&Ms and blue M&Ms |
| Books on the floor and books on the bed |
The script:
"Here's one pile. Here's another pile. Let's put them together. How many altogether?"
If they want to write it down, help them say it as a sentence: "Three plus two equals five."
That's the whole activity.
Words your child is learning
- Add — put two groups together
- Plus / + — the sign for adding; we read it as "plus"
- Total / altogether — how many there are after we put both groups together
That's the whole list for today.
If your child says…
"That's easy."
Wonderful. Ask them to make up their own adding story — "Tell me one about your toys." Inventing the story is harder than solving it, and it shows they really get the idea.
"I keep starting over at 1."
That's completely fine. Try this: cover the first pile with your hand and say the number out loud — "We have 3 here…" — then point at the second pile and count on: "4, 5." They'll pick it up with time.
"I don't want to."
That's okay. Try again tomorrow with something they like — crackers, Legos, stuffed animals. Adding at this age should feel like noticing, not working.
What's next
In our next session, we'll do the opposite: taking away (subtracting). Today we put groups together. Next time, we'll take some away — like eating snacks from a plate.
Thanks for taking a minute tonight. These small kitchen-table moments are where math lives.
— Math for Young Minds
🔑 Cheat sheet (visual)
➕ Adding = put groups together
The big idea
🔴 🔴 🔴 + 🔵 🔵 = 🔴 🔴 🔴 🔵 🔵
3 plus 2 is 5
Put them together. Count them all.
Example 1 — cubes
🟥 🟥 🟥 🟦 🟦
3 red + 2 blue
👉 push together 👈
🟥 🟥 🟥 🟦 🟦
1 2 3 4 5 → altogether: 5
3 + 2 = 5
Example 2 — apples 🍎
pile one pile two
🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎 + 🍎
4 + 1 = ?
Count them all: 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎 🍎 → 5
4 + 1 = 5
How to read the sign
3 + 2 = 5
↑
"plus"
(put together)
| sign | say | means |
|---|---|---|
| + | "plus" | put groups together |
| = | "is" | how many altogether |
Count on — don't start over!
🟥 🟥 🟥 🟦 🟦
1 2 3 ... 4, 5 ✅
🟥 🟥 🟥 🟦 🟦
1 2 3 ... 1, 2 ❌ (don't start at 1 again)
Start from the first total. Keep going.
The Big Rules
✅ Put both groups together. ✅ Count them ALL. ✅ + means "plus" — put together. ✅ The total is how many altogether.
❌ Don't start counting over at 1. ❌ Don't forget one of the groups.
🌟 Try this in your head
2 + 5 = ?
Use your fingers if you want. 🖐️ ✌️
. . .
2 + 5 = 7 🎉