Virginia SOL 1.CE.1.j

Math1st GradeComputation and Estimation

The Standard

Use concrete materials to model, identify, and justify when two expressions are not equal (e.g., 10 - 3 is not equal to 3 + 5).

Virginia Standards of Learning for Mathematics · The student will recall with automaticity addition and subtraction facts within 10 and represent, solve, and justify solutions to single-step problems, including those in context, using addition and subtraction with whole numbers within 20. 

Teacher's field guide

What This Standard Means

What Students Need to Do

Students use counters, cubes, or drawings to model two addition or subtraction expressions. They find each value, decide whether the values differ, and explain why.

What Mastery Looks Like

Students correctly build and solve two expressions within 20. They identify unequal values and justify the comparison using models, numbers, or words.

Common Misconceptions

Students may think expressions are unequal because they use different operations or numbers. They may also compare the written numbers without finding each expression's value.

How to Assess It

Give students 8 - 2 and 4 + 3. Ask them to draw counters, solve both expressions, and write one sentence explaining the comparison.

Lesson moves

Ways to Teach It

  1. Have students build two expression cards with counters, count each set, and place a not-equal card between sets with different totals.

  2. Ask, “Are 9 - 4 and 2 + 4 equal?” Students draw models and write a sentence defending their answer.

  3. Play Expression Match: students solve card pairs and sort them under Equal or Not Equal headings.

  4. Compare two snack situations, such as crackers eaten and crackers added, then model whether the amounts left are equal.

Free download

Printable 1.CE.1.j Worksheet

Preview of the 1.CE.1.j printable worksheet

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 1.CE.1.j, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

Download the worksheet

Keep exploring

Related Standards

Turn this exact standard into a lesson

Grade, subject, topic, and the complete standard are prefilled. Create one free, no account needed.