Addition and
Subtraction
Upside-Down Math
Adding and subtracting big numbers on a calculator is no
problem when the answers complete a silly story.
DIRECTIONS
50+ Super-Fun Math Activities: Grade 3 © Scholastic Teaching Resources
Individual
You’ll
Need
For each student:
◆ Upside-Down Math
(reproducible page
15)
◆ Calculator
◆ Pencil
77345
Grouping
1. Do students know that calculators can
“spell?” If students are unfamiliar with
calculator “words,” give them a practice
problem to enter on the calculator, such as
60,000 + 17,345. When they have
computed the answer (77,345), tell them
to turn the calculator upside down and look
in the window. The answer will appear as
(SHELL).
2. Distribute reproducible page 14. Explain
that students will compute addition and
subtraction problems to complete words for
a silly story. When students are all finished
with the story, have a volunteer read it
aloud.
CALCULATOR
“LETTERS”
0
1
3
4
5
6
7
9
O
I
E
H
S
G
L
G
ASSESSMENT
Teaching
Tip
If every student has a
calculator, this activity
can be done during
math time. If you have
just one calculator for
the class to share, let
students work during
their free time.
14
This activity is self-assessing; If a problem is computed
incorrectly, it will not form a “word.” Answers: ELISE, HI, GIL, HILL,
GEESE, HIGH, LIE, SIGH, HISS, LOG, SOLE, SHOE, EEL, LEGS,
GIGGLE, OH, ELISE, EEL, HOSE.
>>> EXTENSION
Ask students to list the “letters” that can be made on a calculator
and to write a few addition or subtraction problems that result in
“words.”
Addition and
Subtraction
Name
Upside-Down Math
50+ Super-Fun Math Activities: Grade 3 © Scholastic Teaching Resources
Read the story. Each time you come to a math
problem, enter it on your calculator. Then look
at the answer upside down. The answer will
make a word. Write the word on the line above
the problem. When you have filled in every
word, read the story again!
Last week, my friend
came to visit. “
30,173 + 5,000
,
100 – 86
she said when she arrived. “Let’s go up the
!”
596 + 123
to see the
8,500 – 786
.” We headed up the
path until we were
29,784 + 5,555
5,000 – 386
tired. “Let’s
down for a minute,” I said with a
192 + 125
.
5,615 – 1,000
Just then, I heard a
coming from behind a
4,014 + 1,500
. I looked down. Near the
1,000 – 93
of my
1,705 + 2,000
was a big, scary
! I turned and ran as
1,934 + 1,111
850 – 117
fast as my
could go. Then I heard a
2,137 + 3,500
“
!” laughed
21 + 19
.
400,000 – 23,384
. “That’s no
40,000 – 4,827
It’s just an old black
.
400 + 333
!”
4,738 – 1,234
15