Addition and Subtraction Strategies That Build Strong Number Sense

Addition and subtraction strategies are essential for helping students move beyond counting and toward flexible, efficient calculation. This worksheet pack is designed to support students as they practice one‑ and two‑digit addition and subtraction using a variety of evidence‑based strategies including doubles, near doubles, part‑part‑whole, bridging to ten and partitioning.

Teachers will appreciate that this resource:

• Supports mental math development and fluency.
• Reinforces multiple strategies rather than a single method.
• Encourages flexible thinking and number sense.
• Provides clear progression from simpler to more complex tasks.

The variety of formats helps students gain confidence while allowing teachers to target specific strategy instruction as needed.

Addition and Subtraction Strategy Worksheets for Flexible Classroom Use

These addition and subtraction strategy worksheets are designed to be highly adaptable and easy to use across a range of teaching situations.

Try using the resource in these engaging and practical ways:

• Strategy focus days – Assign a specific worksheet when introducing or reviewing a strategy such as doubles or bridging to ten.
• Whiteboard warm‑ups – Project a worksheet and solve a handful of problems together using different strategies.
• Intervention support – Target individual strategies for students who need extra reinforcement.

These ideas help turn worksheets into active learning tools that support discussion, reasoning and engagement.

Addition and Subtraction Strategy Worksheets – Download and Get Started

These addition and subtraction strategy worksheets are available in formats designed to make classroom use simple and flexible.

The resource includes:

• A ready‑to‑download PDF that can be printed and used immediately.
• An editable Google Slides version for digital use, projection or customisation.
  (You will be prompted to make your own copy of the Google Slides file.)

Whether you teach with printed materials, digitally or a combination of both, this pack fits easily into your math routine and supports consistent strategy‑based instruction.

Lindsey Phillips, a Teach Starter collaborator, contributed to this resource.

Need Some Extra Resources for Teaching Addition and Subtraction Strategies?

Look no further! We have more addition and subtraction resources for you below.

teaching resource

Addition Facts to 20 Strategy Posters

Reinforce addition facts to 20 with strategy posters that clearly teach mental strategies and build student confidence.

teaching resource

Exploring Strategies for Subtraction PowerPoint

Explore and teach multiple subtraction strategies with an instructional slide deck

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2-Digit Subtraction Using Bar Models - Task Cards

Review and assess your students’ subtraction skills with a set of 2-digit subtraction task cards focusing on using the part-part-whole model.