Addition Teaching Resources
Introduce addition this school year with printable worksheets, digital activities, adding games, addition word problems, flashcards and more to help students understand how to add numbers and apply addition strategies to maths problems.
This teaching resource collection was created by the teachers on the Teach Starter team for primary teachers like you. Each Australian curriculum-aligned resource has been carefully reviewed and curated by our expert teachers to ensure it's ready to use with your students! Browse printables and digital activities for teaching students how to make 10, how to add integers and more, plus find differentiated resources to help you meet each student's needs!
New to teaching addition, or just looking for new ways to engage your students? Read on for a primer from our teacher team, including a kid-friendly definition and some common vocabulary!
What Is Addition? A Kid-Friendly Definition
Let's start with a definition of this maths operation that's easy for them to understand!
Addition is a maths operation that involves combining two or more numbers to find a total. The symbol (+) is used to indicate addition, and this is called a plus sign.
Here's an example of addition at work!
In the equation 2 + 3 = 5, the numbers 2 and 3 are added together to get a sum of 5.
Addition Terms
There are plenty of new vocabulary words for your students to learn when introducing addition. Here are some of the terms you will want to start with.
Sum
The sum is the result of adding two or more numbers. It's the solution or answer to an addition problem!
In the equation 2 + 3 = 5, 5 is the sum.
Addend
The numbers being added in an addition equation are called addends.
For example, in the equation 2 + 3 = 5, both 2 and 3 are addends.
Commutative Property
The commutative property states that changing the order of the addends in your addition problem does not change the sum.
For example, 2 + 3 is the same as 3 + 2.
Associative Property
The associative property states that changing the grouping of the addends in your maths problem will not change the sum.
For example, (2 + 3) + 4 is the same as 2 + (3 + 4).
Repeated Addition
Sometimes a math problem involves adding the same number multiple times. We call this repeated addition, and it's a way to find the product of two numbers where one of the numbers is repeated a certain number of times.
Repeated addition is handy for helping students understand multiplication. After all, multiplication can be thought of as repeated addition.
Cartoon plus sign
What Is Partial Sums Addition?
If you know what a sum is, you're halfway to understanding partial sums addition! This maths vocabulary term refers to adding two or more numbers by breaking apart the addends and adding the value of the digits in each place value position from right to left.
This handy strategy is great for students when they are first learning to add two or more numbers. Partial sums addition breaks down the process of addition into smaller, more manageable steps.
Let's look at an example.
If you have the 36 + 27 and want to use partial sums addition, you start by determining the value of the digits in the ones place, adding them together, and writing down the sum (6 + 7 = 13).
Next, add the value of the tens place digits together (30 + 20 = 50), and write down the answer under the previous sum. Add together the two partial sums to get your answer, 63.
- Plus Plan
Mystery Pattern Grids (Addition)
Solve addition sums and interpret grid coordinates to reveal the picture.
- Plus Plan
Teddy Tables – Addition and Sharing Game
A hands-on maths game that focuses on practical addition using teddy bear counters.
- Plus Plan
Maths Mazes (Addition and Subtraction)
A set of puzzling mazes that require addition and subtraction skills to solve.
- Plus Plan
Parts of a Number Sentence (Addition and Subtraction) Posters
Two posters to display in the classroom explaining the elements of addition and subtraction number sentences.
- Plus Plan
Near Doubles - Number Facts Board Game
A fun hands-on game students can play to consolidate their knowledge of near doubles.
- Plus Plan
Double Plus One - Worksheet
A worksheet to help students demonstrate their understanding of near doubles.
- Plus Plan
Double Plus One - Grid Worksheet
A fun worksheet to help students demonstrate their understanding of near doubles.
- Free Plan
Hands and Numbers 1-10 Counting Activity Template
Teach counting from 1 to 10 and one-to-one correspondence with a creative (and free) printable activity.
- Plus Plan
Doubles Leap Frog - Doubling Numbers Game
A fun game for students to play when doubling two digit numbers.
- Plus Plan
Year 1 Halloween Addition Game - Roll-a-Potion
Roll and add to create a magic potion, then draw it in the cauldron with a printable Year 1 Halloween game.
- Plus Plan
Jump Strategy Addition Mini Book
Use this mini-book to help your students learn how to use the jump strategy to solve addition sums.
- Plus Plan
Bunny Number Lines - Addition and Subtraction Task Cards
Hop like a bunny to practise addition and subtraction on a number line.
- Plus Plan
Add and Subtract Integers on a Number Line - Interactive Picture Reveal
Practise solving addition and subtraction equations with positive and negative numbers using an interactive mystery picture reveal.
- Plus Plan
Rainbow Facts Matching Activity
Practise number bonds with this fun rainbow-themed hands-on activity.
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Estimating Decimal Sum and Differences — Year 6 Maths Mazes
Year 6 students can practise estimating solutions to decimal addition and subtraction equations with this set of maths mazes.
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Addition Strategies: Base-Ten Blocks Worksheet
Practice using the strategy of using base-10 blocks and regrouping to find the sum.
- Plus Plan
Bump! – Addition to 10 Game
An addition board game to help consolidate facts to ten.
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Addition Match-Up Puzzles
A set of 15 match-up cards to scaffold work with addition word problems.
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Making 10 Number Bonds - Worksheet
A worksheet to practise the addition strategy of making 10.
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Operations of Four Maths Machine Worksheet
A worksheet to use when practising addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
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Number Talks - Making Numbers Task Cards
Build number sense skills with this set of 20 task cards.
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Equation Tails Active Learning
A whole class active game that encourages learning through a physical setting.
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Number Ladders
Blank number ladders with space for sums.
- Plus Plan
Rainbow Facts - Addition Match Up Cards
A bright and fun game to play in the classroom when learning the Friends of Ten and Rainbow Facts.
- Plus Plan
Combinations of 10 and 20 Posters
Easily recognise combinations of 10 and combinations of 20 with this visual poster set.
- Plus Plan
Fact Families Maths Group Activity
Use this hands-on addition and subtraction strategy activity in your next guided math group lesson!
- Plus Plan
Addition Strategy Mats
Practise using a variety of addition strategies to add 2-digit numbers.
- Plus Plan
Rainbow Facts - Zero-Tail Game
Practise rainbow number facts when solving addition problems involving two-digit numbers with this fun game.
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Ten is a Match! - Memory-Style Game
Practise matching rainbow facts, or two numbers that add up to 10, with this set of 24 number cards.
- Plus Plan
Word Problem Task Cards – 2-Digit + 1-Digit Addition
Practise adding 2-Digit and 1-Digit numbers with this set of 16 word problem task cards.
- Free Plan
Adding 2-Digit Numbers Task Cards
Practice adding 2-digit numbers with this set of 18 number sentence task cards.
- Plus Plan
2-Digit + 1-Digit Numbers Addition Worksheet
Practice addition involving 2- and 1-digit numbers with this drill and practice worksheet.