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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Number Talks - Fluency to 20 Task Cards
Build number sense skills with this set of 24 task cards.
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Think Big, Count Small - Addition Dominoes
A set of addition dominoes to use in the classroom when applying counting on strategies.
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Making 10 – Number Facts Board Game
A fun hands-on game students can play to consolidate their knowledge of making 10.
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Doubles - Number Facts Board Game
A fun hands-on game students can play to consolidate their knowledge of doubles.
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Double Minus One - Grid Worksheet
A fun worksheet to help students demonstrate their understanding of near doubles.
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Double Minus One - Dice Roll Worksheet
A worksheet to help students demonstrate their understanding of near doubles.
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Addition Strategy Spin Game
Have some fun all while practising different addition strategies with this fun classroom game.
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Blast Off Addition Strategy Interactive Activity
Practise four different addition strategies in this fun space-themed interactive activity.
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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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Making Ten Cut and Paste Worksheet
A cut-and-paste worksheet to practise finding the missing addend when making ten.
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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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The Addition Quest – Whole Class Game
Find the hidden gems and place their numbers into the correct positions on the worksheet to solve the sums.
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Colouring by Larger Numbers - Operations
Colouring pages to be used when working with operations.
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The Addition Labyrinth – Maths Game
A dynamic addition board game for the classroom.
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Colouring by Numbers - Operations
Colouring pages to be used when working with operations.
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Counting On 2 and 3 – Number Facts Board Game
A fun hands-on game students can play to consolidate their knowledge of counting on by 2 and 3.
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Polygon Puzzles - Addition
A matching game that helps students to develop their addition skills.
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Christmas Maths - Roll, Add and Colour Worksheets
Roll, add and colour your way to addition fact mastery with a se tof printable Christmas Maths worksheets.
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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 Addition Strategy Interactive Activity
Practise using the hundreds chart as an addition strategy with this fun interactive activity.
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Apple Tree Addition and Subtraction Mat
Solve addition and subtraction problems up to 10 with a hands-on apple maths centre.
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The Mathematical Easter Egg Hunt – Whole Class Game
A differentiated whole class Easter egg hunt.
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Christmas Activity Mazes – Addition and Subtraction
Navigate these Christmas maze worksheets with some simple addition and subtraction to keep those minds active!
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Classroom Spinner Template - Maths Equations
Classroom spinner template focusing on maths equations using addition and subtraction.
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Roll, Add and Colour - Easter Basket
A fun roll, add and colour sheet featuring an Easter basket.
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Add and Reveal the Picture PowerPoint – Addition Practice (Basic)
An appealing PowerPoint for students to interact with when practising addition facts.
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Maths Mazes (Two-digit Addition)
A set of three mazes that require students to add two-digit numbers.
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Dodging Equations Active Learning
A whole class active game that encourages learning through a physical setting.
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Double +1 Addition Dominoes
A set of addition dominoes to use in the classroom when applying the double +1 strategy.
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Counting On 1 – Number Facts Board Game
A fun hands-on game students can play to consolidate their knowledge of counting on by 1.
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Subtracting From 10 – Number Facts Board Game
A fun hands-on game students can play to consolidate their knowledge of subtracting from 10.
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10 to 100 Two-Digit Plus One-Digit Addition Flashcards – Stars BW (Horizontal)
Ninety addition 10 to 100 two-digit plus one-digit addition flashcards.