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 math problems.
This teaching resource collection was created by the teachers on the Teach Starter team for elementary teachers. Each of the curriculum-aligned resources has been carefully reviewed and curated by our expert teachers to make sure 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 math operation that's easy for them to understand!
Addition is a math 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 for Kids to Learn
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 off 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.
In the equation 2 + 3 = 5, for example, 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 math 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 math 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 to use with 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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Christmas Math Worksheets - Roll, Add and Color Addition
Roll, add, and color your way to Christmas with a pack of fun Kindergarten math worksheets.
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1st Grade Halloween Addition Game - Roll-a-Potion
Roll and add to create a magic potion, then draw it in the cauldron with a printable Halloween game.
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Halloween Addition Worksheet
Count on to solve spooky addition problems in this 2-page Halloween Addition Worksheet.
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Spooky Sums Tarsia Puzzle - 3 Digit Addition
Practice three-digit addition skills with a Halloween pumpkin tarsia puzzle.
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Spooky Halloween Math Centers for Kindergarten
Save time writing your October Math Lesson plans with a Digital Halloween math activity for kindergarten.
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Number Bonds Math Center Activity
Use this hands-on number bonds (addition and subtraction) strategy activity in your next guided math group lesson!
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Addition by Regrouping Classroom Poster
Learn the steps to addition with regrouping with this simple classroom poster.
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Break Apart Strategy Interactive PowerPoint
Learn all about the break apart strategy with this teaching PowerPoint.
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Bridge to Ten Addition Strategy Task Cards
Help students quickly bridge to ten to assist with their addition strategies using linking cubes.
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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 Strategy Mats
Practice using a variety of addition strategies to add 2-digit numbers.
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Rainbow Number Facts (Making 10) - Board Game
Practice the addition strategy of making ten with this board game.
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Missing Addend to 10 Flashcards
Practice all the ways to make ten with this set of flashcards.
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Adding with Strip Diagram Cut and Paste Worksheet
Practice adding two digit numbers using the strip diagram with this cut and paste worksheet.
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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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Addition Strategies to 20 Workmat
Practice using a variety of addition strategies to add numbers up to 20.
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Adding within 1,000 Expanded Form Worksheet
Practice using the break apart strategy by working through this addition worksheet.
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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 two-digit addition problems.
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Compensation Strategy Addition Mini Book
Use this mini-book to help your students learn how to use the compensation strategy to solve addition sums.
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Break Apart Addition Strategy Mini Book
Use this mini-book to help your students learn how to use the break apart strategy to solve two-digit addition problems.
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Pizza-Themed Near Doubles Task Cards
Practice quick recall of near doubles facts with this cute pizza-themed task cards 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.
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Rainbow Facts Zero-Tail Game
Use this fun two-digit addition strategy math game to reinforce the concept of "compatible numbers."
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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.
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Hundreds Chart Addition Strategy Interactive Activity
Practice using the hundreds chart as an addition strategy with this fun interactive activity.
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Blast Off Addition Strategy Interactive Activity
Practice four different addition strategies in this fun space-themed interactive activity.
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Jump Strategy Addition Interactive Activity
Practice using the addition jump strategy with this fun interactive activity.
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Turnaround Facts 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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Compensation Strategy Addition Interactive Activity
Practice using the addition compensation strategy with this fun interactive activity.
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Break Apart Addition Strategy Interactive Activity
Practice using the addition break apart strategy with this fun interactive activity.
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Adding within 100 Strip Diagram Task Cards
Practice using the strip diagram to add numbers within 100 with this set of task cards.
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Break Apart Strategy Addition Dominoes
Practice using the break apart strategy with this set of two-digit addition dominoes.