12 Ways to Get To 11

Summary: This is a story that literally shows 12 different ways to get to 11 using different
objects. Each page shows different ways to add objects up to 11. The illustrations are very
helpful because each object stated in the words on the page is represented through illustration
with the correct quantities making it easy to point and count for students. Also, each page has a
different theme. For example, one page is a jack-o-lantern, while another page is hens hatching,
and another page is magician pulling objects out of his hat. This really can help show students
how many different ways you can solve math problems.
Standards:
Math
1.0A.5 Relate counting to addition and subtraction.
1.0A.6a. Add and subtract within 20.
ELA
1R6: Describe how illustrations and details support the point of view or purpose of the text. (RI&RL)

Book Introduction: The teacher will read the students the title of the book and ask them why
they think the author, Eve, Merriam, chose that title. After hearing their explanations of why,
explain to the students that there are many ways to solve a math problem. Tell them that today
you will be reading about different ways to add numbers to make 11. Before reading the book,
encourage the children to pay attention to the illustrations on the page and how many of each
object is illustrated.
Activities:
1) The teacher will read the whole story to the students, making sure to stop and point at the
different objects that are being added up to make 11. After reading the story through once, the
teacher will ask the students again why the author chose to name the book, “12 Ways to Get To
11.” The teacher will give students time to think, pair, and share their newly informed answers.
Then, she will start a second mini discussion of what the children noticed about the author’s
illustrations explaining that the illustrations demonstrate how many of each object there is that
we are adding up.

2) After this, the teacher will let the students know that she is going to read through the book
again and this time we are going to stop to write down how many different objects there are and
add them to get to 11. She will use a visual aid on the smartboard where she will drag pictures in
of the certain objects being added on the page. Her and the students will add the objects together
before turning to the next page. Eventually, about halfway through the book, she will have the
students add up the objects with a partner using their whiteboards. By about the eight page, she
will have these students adding up the objects independently.
The drag and drop will look similar to the example below, but obviously with our various objects
and with addition and equal signs as well.

To make this even more interactive, you could have printouts of all the different objects, for
example a printout could look like this:

This photo would represent the 6 peanut shells at the circus on page 3 in the story.
You can make these for each object with their amount and have kids standing up in front of the
class while the class uses counting to add the objects up to 11.

3) To debrief the lesson, the teacher will ask the students a few follow up questions to show their
engagement. For example: What were your favorite objects to add up? How would you add up
different numbers to get to 11? Did you notice the illustrated objects on the page always added
up to 11 too? Then, the students will do an addition activity where they are adding more than 2
numbers together using Cuisenaire rods (pictured below) as a manipulative to aid them in adding
accurately. They will do this activity at their seats. Then to close up the lesson, we will come
back to the rug to talk about our answers and how the book we just read helped us add together
more than 2 numbers at a time.

4) Maybe the next day, to show their understanding, as a fun math warm-up, they can pick a
number and find multiple different ways to get to that number and share with a partner.
 References
Merriam, E. (2003). 12 Ways To Get To 11. New York, NY: Tandem Library.