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.
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Jump Strategy Addition Mini Book
Use this mini-book to help your students learn how to use the jump strategy to solve addition sums.
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Addition Within 100 Bar Model - Interactive Mystery Picture
Take a deep dive using the bar model for addition within 100 with this fun mystery reveal interactive activity.
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Number Line Task Cards - Superhero Addition and Subtraction Activity
Fly through addition and subtraction on a number line with an exciting Number Line Superhero task card activity.
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Adding and Subtracting Integers on Number Lines - Worksheet
Help your students learn to add and subtract integers on a number line with a printable adding and subtracting integers worksheet.
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Rearranging Parts Worksheet
Rearrange the parts of a sum to form new number sentences with this worksheet.
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Adding 2-Digit Numbers Task Cards
Practice adding 2-digit numbers with this set of 18 number sentence task cards.
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Classroom Spinner Template - Maths Equations
Classroom spinner template focusing on maths equations using addition and subtraction.
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Bridging to Ten PowerPoint
A 14-slide PowerPoint that uses engaging animations to step students through the 'bridging to ten' addition strategy.
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Making 10 Number Bonds - Worksheet
A worksheet to practise the addition strategy of making 10.
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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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Number Talks - Balancing Equations Task Cards
Build number sense skills with this set of 40 task cards.
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Addition Bingo – Numbers 0–50
32 different bingo cards using addition and numbers from 0-50.
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Maths Action Words – Keyword Sign Free Printables
Help your students decipher maths word problems with a set of printable maths keyword sign free printables.
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4-Digit Place Value Card Game - Race to 10 000
A fun game for students to play in small groups to consolidate their understanding of adding and subtracting in groups of 10, 100 and 1000.
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Making a Ten Board Game
Introduce this Making a Ten board game to your students to give them practise using the ‘make a ten’ addition strategy.
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Near Doubles Activities - 'Wizard's Walk' Board Game
Play near doubles activities like our Wizard’s Walk board game for an engaging way to practise addition strategies.
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My Life in Numbers Worksheet
Use this numbers worksheet as a means of student introductions early in a new school year.
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Number Talks - Double Digit Addition Task Cards
Build number sense skills with this set of 24 task cards.
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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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Addition Turnarounds Flip Flop Task Cards
Develop number sense with addition turnaround facts to 20 with these cute flip flop fact task cards.
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Adding within 100 Bar Model Task Cards
Practise using the bar model to add numbers within 100 with this set of task cards.
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Jump Strategy Addition Game
Practise using the jump strategy for multi-digit addition with a fun maths game.
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Counting On Cover Up Game
Practise the counting-on strategy with this fun cover-the-board game.
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Partitioning Teaching Presentation
Introduce the partitioning strategy to your students with this teaching presentation.
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Ice Cream Addition Activity
A cute ice cream-themed addition activity.
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Equation Tails Active Learning
A whole class active game that encourages learning through a physical setting.
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Dodging Equations 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.
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Counting On Game - Counting On 1
Play counting on games like this Counting On 1 board game to engage your early learners as they learn to add by counting on one.
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Addition Strategies Exit Tickets
Assess student knowledge of different addition strategies with these printable exit tickets.
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Addition to 1000 Sunflower Interactive Activity
Practise solving addition problems using a variety of addition strategies with this interactive activity.
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Hundreds Chart Strategy Addition Mini Book
Use this mini-book to help your students learn how to use the hundreds chart as a strategy to solve addition sums.