Picture Addition: Writing Addition Statements with Images

A picture addition problem always has three parts hiding inside it: the first group, the second group, and the total when both groups are put together. For example, a picture might show 3 apples on one side and 2 apples on the other side. Counting both groups and then counting everything together turns the picture into the addition statement \( 3 + 2 = 5 \).

This is closely related to combining together with objects up to 10, where students physically join two sets of objects. Here, the objects are drawn in a picture instead of held in the hand, but the counting idea is exactly the same.

The first step with any addition picture is to look for a clear line, a gap, or a color change that separates the picture into two groups. Count the first group out loud, then count the second group out loud. Writing each count as a number underneath the group helps keep track before combining them.

Once both groups are counted and the total is known, the picture can be written as a full addition statement. This means placing the first count, a plus sign, the second count, an equals sign, and the total in order: \( 3 + 2 = 5 \). The plus sign tells a reader that two groups are being joined together, and the equals sign tells a reader what the combined total is. Practicing this step is exactly what happens in writing an addition statement up to 10, which focuses on turning counted groups into this same three-part sentence.

Imagine a picture with 4 yellow stars on the left and 1 yellow star on the right, with a small gap between them.

1. Count the first group: there are 4 stars.
2. Count the second group: there is 1 star.
3. Count every star in the whole picture: there are 5 stars in total.
4. Write the addition statement: \( 4 + 1 = 5 \).

Notice that even though the picture looks different from the apple example, both pictures lead to a total of 5. Comparing pictures that give the same total helps students see that addition is about combining amounts, not about the shape or color of the objects.

• Always find the split between the two groups before counting anything.
• Point to each object once while counting to avoid skipping or double counting.
• Say the addition statement out loud after writing it, such as "3 plus 2 equals 5," to connect the words to the symbols.
• If a number is missing from the picture's statement, use the same counting steps described in completing the addition statement up to 10 to figure out the missing part.

With steady practice, reading an addition picture and writing its matching number sentence becomes an automatic habit, setting the stage for adding without needing a picture at all.

Related lessons

• Kindergarten