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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Rearranging Parts – Worksheet
Rearrange the parts of an addition problem to form new number sentences with this worksheet.
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Making 10 – Worksheet
Practice the addition strategy of making ten with this math worksheet.
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Counting On with Number Bonds – Worksheet
Begin from the larger number and count on to find the total with this worksheet.
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Rearranging Parts – Instructional Slide Deck
Learn how to decompose numbers less than or equal to 10 into pairs in more than one way with this instructional slide deck.
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Counting On – Instructional Slide Deck
Introduce the early addition concept of “counting on” to your students with this set of teaching slides.
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100th Day of School Dice Games - Roll to 100 Challenge
Roll your way through the 100th Day with dice games for kids.
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Mental Math Addition Posters
Use this set of addition posters in your classroom when teaching different mental math strategies.
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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.
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Fall Math - Addition to 10 Task Cards
Practice addition up to 10 with this set of 20 fall-themed task cards.
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5th Grade Whole Number Operations Assessment
Asses student understanding of adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing whole numbers with this math assessment.
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Addition and Subtraction with Decimals – Task Cards
Practice adding and subtracting multi-digit decimals with this set of 16 task cards.
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Decorate a Pumpkin - Halloween Addition Game
Practice finding sums up to 12 with this fun Halloween Math Game!
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Adding 2-Digit Numbers - Fall Math Task Cards
Celebrate the coming of Autumn and practice adding 2-digit numbers with this set of 18 task cards.
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The Addition Quest – Whole Class Activity
Find the hidden gems and place their numbers into the correct positions on the worksheet to solve each addition problem.
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Mystery Pattern Grids (Addition)
Solve addition facts, interpret coordinate planes, and draw shapes to reveal a mystery picture.
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Design a Food Truck Math Project
Introduce your students to the world of Food Trucks as they master math, STEM, and art to design and run their own food truck.
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Addition and Subtraction Word Problem Task Cards - (Numbers 1-9)
Use a range of addition and subtraction strategies to solve twenty single-digit word problems.
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Adding Four 2-Digit Numbers Task Cards
Practice adding four 2-digit numbers together with this set of 16 task cards.
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2-digit + 1-digit Task Cards
Practice adding 2-digit and 1-digit numbers with this set of 18 number sentence task cards.
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Multi-Step Problem Solving Worksheet
Solve a multi-step problem and explain the mathematical reasoning behind the process with this simple assessment worksheet.
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Addition Strategies: Using Doubles Worksheet
Practice the doubles addition strategy to solve addition problems to 20.
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Addition Strategies: Make a Ten Worksheet
A 2-page worksheet that uses ten frames to model the “making ten” addition strategy.
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Math Mazes – Making Ten
A set of mazes where students find missing addends to solve the maze.
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Roll, Add, and Color - Easter Basket
A fun roll, add, and color sheet featuring an Easter basket.
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Roll, Add, and Color - Easter Bunny
A fun roll, add, and color sheet featuring an Easter bunny.
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Making Ten Teaching Slide Deck
A 14-slide PowerPoint that uses engaging animations to walk students through the 'making ten' addition strategy.
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Find Your Detective Call Sign Worksheet
An addition worksheet students use to find their own special detective call sign.
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Addition to 10 Modeling Mats
Familiarize students with adding single-digit numbers using this set of practice mats.
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Addition Match-Up Puzzles
A set of 15 match-up cards to scaffold work with addition word problems.
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Add and Reveal PowerPoint – Addition Practice
A PowerPoint for students to interact with when practicing addition facts.
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Number Chart – 1-20
A bright number chart representing numbers 1-20.
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Color By Number - Mental Math Practice
A set of 5 color by number sheets that can be used to practice mental math.