Grade 1 Math Book · Addition & Subtraction
Rooster's Off to See the World
by Eric Carle
A rooster sets off to see the world, and along the way 2 cats, 3 frogs, 4 turtles and 5 fish join him. When night falls, they get hungry and homesick and leave one group at a time.
Why it's useful
A simple story that shows adding groups and taking them away.
- Adding on. Each new group joins the trip, so kids add as they read.
- Subtracting. The animals leave in reverse, a natural look at taking away.
- Total of 15. Kids can work out the whole group and check it.
Try it in class or at home
- Track the trip. Keep a running total on the board as each group joins.
- Who's left? As animals go home, subtract and say how many remain.
- New travelers. Kids invent their own animal groups and write the story.