Addition Strategies Teaching Resources
Make teaching addition strategies easier this school year with worksheets, printables, math games, and more created by elementary teachers for elementary teachers like you.
Aligned with both TEKS and the Common Core Math curriculum standards, the digital and printable teacher resources in this collection cover a range of grade levels, so you can find just what you need for your lesson plans. Whether you're teaching kindergartners how to count on, explaining the commutative property to your 3rd grade class or working on your students' front-end estimation skills, we've got you covered!
Has it been a while since you taught math, or at least this particular part of the curriculum? Our teacher team knows a quarter of American teachers switch grades every year, and sometimes you could use a quick refresher.
What Are Addition Strategies?
Using strategies in math teaches students to think flexibly about numbers and will help them develop automaticity. So, what does it mean in the context of addition?
The term addition strategies refers to the different methods and techniques that can be used by our students to solve addition problems.
These strategies are an important part of developing fluency and building a deeper conceptual understanding — not to mention more efficient than counting as students flex their math muscles!
6 Addition Strategy Examples That Can Help Elementary Students Build Fluency
Looking for examples of some of the addition strategies that can help put your students on the path to a more procedural model? Here are a few that can be used side by side:
Counting On Strategy
Kindergarten and 1st graders can start with the larger number and count on from there to begin mastering addition.
Counting On Strategy Example — If students want to find the sum of 7 + 3, they would start with 7 and count on 3 more (8, 9, 10).
Making 10
Finding ways to make one of the numbers a multiple of 10 and then adding the remaining number is a simple but effective strategy to help first and second graders build fluency.
Making 10 Strategy Example — If your student is looking to find the sum of 7 + 4, they could make 7 into 10 by adding 3 and have 1 left to add on.
Doubles Strategy
The doubles strategy for addition is based on the fact that adding a number to itself is the same as doubling that number.
Double Strategy Example — To add 8 + 7, one can think of it as 7 + 7 (which equals 14) and then add one more to get 8 + 7 = 15.
Number Bonds
Number bonds involve breaking the problem down into smaller parts that can be added together.
Number Bonds Strategy Example — To find the sum of 7 + 3, you could think of the problem as (5 + 2) + 3.
Place Value
This strategy involves breaking down numbers into their individual digits and adding them one column at a time, starting with the ones place, then the tens place, etc.
Mental Math
Using mental math as an addition strategy involves rounding, front-end estimation and compensation.
- Plus Plan
Addition and Subtraction Word Problems - Match Game
Practice reading, modeling, and solving addition and subtraction word problems with a matching activity.
- Free Plan
Double Facts Math Charts - Addition Rhyme Posters
Help your students remember their doubles facts to twenty with a set of printable double facts addition rhyme posters.
- Free Plan
Printable Blank Number Line - 0-120
Create personal number lines for use in math lessons with a printable blank number line template for numbers from 1-120.
- Plus Plan
Word Problems Addition and Subtraction Escape Room
Search for a lost treasure in our word problems addition and subtraction escape room that will give your students varied practice adding and subtracting one and two-digit numbers.
- Free Plan
Ten Frame Printable Templates
Use these printable ten frames in various math lessons to reinforce number sense and other essential skills.
- Free Plan
Making Ten Activity
Practice making 10 using objects, pictorial models, and number sentences with this activity mat.
- Plus Plan
Tens Frame - Addition and Subtraction Match-Up Activity
Build addition and subtraction skills with two tens frame matching games.
- Free Plan
Find 20 Addition Strategy Task Cards
Practice finding 20 with this set of linking cube task cards.
- Plus Plan
Double Dinos - Using Doubles Facts to Add Near Doubles Worksheet
Practice the “near doubles” addition strategy to solve addition problems to 20.
- Free Plan
Addition Strategies Cheat Sheet
Help students understand the different addition strategies with this helpful cheat sheet.
- Plus Plan
Adding within 1,000 Strip Diagram Match Up Activity
Practice using the strip diagram to add numbers within 1,000 with this match up activity.
- Free Plan
Making 10 Number Bonds - Worksheet
A worksheet to practice the addition strategy of making 10.
- Plus Plan
Adding and Subtracting Word Problems Interactive Task Cards
Engage your students with this interactive adding and subtracting word problems activity that features a variety of problem types.
- Plus Plan
Money Word Problems Addition and Subtraction Worksheet Set
Use our money word problems addition and subtraction worksheet set to give your students differentiated practice modeling a variety of one and two-digit word problems.
- Plus Plan
Adding and Subtracting Money Word Problems Game
Download this adding and subtracting money word problems game for a fun way to practice double digit operations using real-world scenarios.
- Plus Plan
Addition Strategy: Counting On – Worksheet
Practice the “counting on” addition strategy to solve addition problems to 20.
- Plus Plan
Kindergarten Math Activity - Christmas Addition Facts Up to 10 Puzzle
Review addition facts up to 10 with a printable Christmas math activity for Kindergarten.
- Free Plan
Christmas Math Worksheets - Sums to 12 Activity
Practice finding number bonds and sums to 12 using printable Christmas Math worksheets for first grade.
- Plus Plan
Rainbow Number Facts (Making 10) - Board Game
Practice the addition strategy of making ten with this board game.
- Free Plan
Adding with Strip Diagram Cut and Paste Worksheet
Practice adding two digit numbers using the strip diagram with this cut and paste worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Double-Digit Addition Strategies Posters
Remind your students to use different addition strategies with a set of printable two-digit addition strategies.
- Plus Plan
Addition to 1,000 Sunflower Interactive Activity
Practice solving addition problems using a variety of addition strategies with this interactive activity.
- Plus Plan
Rainbow Number Fact Cards
Practice rainbow facts with these fun fact families to ten posters for your classroom!
- Free Plan
Printable Number Line 0–30
Make counting a visual experience with this set of 4 multi-purpose 0–30 printable number lines.
- Plus Plan
Secret Code Number Line - Worksheet
Crack the number line code with five number line codebreaker worksheets to practice number identification, addition, and subtraction.
- Plus Plan
Rainbow Number Bonds - Math Game
Practice number bonds with this fun rainbow-themed hands-on activity.
- Plus Plan
Counting On Cover Up Game
Practice the counting-on strategy with this engaging cover-the-board game.
- Plus Plan
Addition Detectives - Interactive Math Game
An engaging 43-slide PowerPoint themed as a detective story in which students are tasked with using different addition strategies to reveal suspects.
- Free Plan
Doubles Plus One - Worksheet
Practice the doubles plus one addition strategy with this one-page worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Doubles Minus One - Worksheet
Practice the doubles minus one addition strategy with this one-page worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Count on Facts Board Game: Counting On 1
Provide your early learners with this count on facts board game to engage them as they learn to add by counting on one.
- Plus Plan
Counting On Game
Engage your students with this fun and colorful counting on game that gives your students practice with the “counting on” addition strategy.