"We had to make up ways to make 5."

How may ways can you make 5 using addition and subtraction?

"We had to add and subtract cubes to make the right number."

This activity is called "Enough for the Class." 

 Each bag has a different # of cubes and students determine if they have enough for the class or how many more or less cubes are needed to come up with exactly enough for the class.

"This is more fun that I expected!"

"We are making crayon boxes.  We can only have 10 crayons, and we can only use red, yellow, and green. It's very fun!"