Subjects/Foundational Numeracy/Adding With Objects
Foundational NumeracyAddition

Adding With Objects

Combine piles of groundnuts and other objects to understand addition.

10 min

🎯 What You'll Learn

You will learn what addition means by combining groups of real objects together and counting the total.

🏪 Market Story

Amina has 3 groundnuts in her left hand and 4 groundnuts in her right hand. She puts them all together on the table. Now she counts all of them: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. When she combined the two groups, she got 7 groundnuts! This is addition.

📝 Let's Learn

Addition means putting groups together to find the total. We use the + sign (called "plus") and the = sign (called "equals").

3 + 4 = 7. We say: "Three plus four equals seven."

Example 1: Emeka has 2 oranges. Bola gives him 3 more. How many does he have now? 2 + 3 = 5 oranges.

Example 2: There are 5 children on one bench and 4 on another. How many children altogether? 5 + 4 = 9 children.

Example 3: Funke puts 6 tomatoes and 2 peppers in a bowl. How many vegetables in the bowl? 6 + 2 = 8 vegetables.

Tip: You can use your fingers, stones, or sticks to help you add. Put out one group, then add the other, and count everything together.

✏️ Practice Questions

  1. Chidi has 4 pencils. His friend gives him 3 more. How many pencils does he have now?
  2. A basket has 5 mangoes. Tunde puts in 2 more. How many mangoes are in the basket?
  3. There are 6 boys and 4 girls playing football. How many children are playing altogether?
Click to see answers
  1. 4 + 3 = 7 pencils.
  2. 5 + 2 = 7 mangoes.
  3. 6 + 4 = 10 children.

💡 Remember

Addition means putting groups together. The plus sign (+) tells you to combine, and the answer is the total. You can always use objects to help you count!