What is the Compensation Strategy?

The compensation strategy, in the context of addition, is a mental maths technique that involves adjusting or compensating one number to make the addition process easier. This strategy is particularly useful when working with numbers that are close to a multiple of ten or a round number. The purpose of the compensation strategy is to simplify the addition problem by adjusting one of the numbers to create a more friendly or easier-to-calculate sum.

Adding Larger Numbers Just Got Easier!

This PowerPoint uses the skills necessary to apply the compensation strategy successfully when adding numbers mentally. The presentation includes worked-out examples of rounding off numbers to a ten, with gradual release towards independent work.

The interactive animations in this teaching slide deck lead you and your students through the process step-by-step.

Easily modify this teaching presentation to suit the abilities of your class by duplicating slides and changing the numbers used in the examples.

Download and Teach!

This resource requires no prep! Simply click download and you’re ready to teach! Use the dropdown arrow on the download button to select the Google Slides resource file.

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

Looking For More Addition Strategy Resources?

Check out more ready-to-go resources below!

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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 Strategies Cheat Sheet

Help students understand the different addition strategies with this helpful cheat sheet.