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.
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Number Bonds Worksheets for Addition and Subtraction
Build addition and subtraction fact fluency with a differentiated number bonds worksheet pack that helps students develop strong part-part-whole understanding.
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Printable Number Line 0–30
Make counting a visual experience with this set of 4 multi-purpose 0–30 printable number lines.
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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.
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Ten Frame Printable Templates
Use these printable ten frames in various math lessons to reinforce number sense and other essential skills.
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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.
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Addition Strategy: Counting On – Worksheet
Practice the “counting on” addition strategy to solve addition problems to 20.
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Find 20 Addition Strategy Task Cards
Practice finding 20 with this set of linking cube task cards.
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Making Ten Activity
Practice making 10 using objects, pictorial models, and number sentences with this activity mat.
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Double Dinos - Using Doubles Facts to Add Near Doubles Worksheet
Practice the “near doubles” addition strategy to solve addition problems to 20.
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Addition Strategies: Base-Ten Blocks Worksheet
Practice using the strategy of using base-10 blocks and regrouping to find the sum.
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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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Making Ten Cut and Paste Worksheet
A cut and paste worksheet to practice finding the missing addend when making ten.
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Addition and Subtraction Word Problems - Teaching Slides
Introduce addition and subtraction word problems with this clear, interactive teaching slide deck.
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Counting On and Counting Back Worksheets
Practice adding and subracting with this counting on and counting back worksheet pack.
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Addition Facts to 20 Teaching Slides
Build confidence with addition facts to 20 using this structured and engaging teaching slide deck.
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Addition Fact Practice: Numbers to 20 Escape Room
Engage students in addition fact practice with an interactive escape room and companion student notebook that make learning fun, hands-on, and meaningful.
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Change It! – Addition to 20 Hands-On Activity
Practice addition to 20 by rearranging the parts of whole numbers into different combinations with this hands-on math activity.
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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.
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Adding Numbers Game Board: Making Ten Board Game
Introduce this Adding Numbers Game Board: Making Ten board game to your students to give them the practice using the “make a ten” addition strategy.
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Near Doubles Game: Wizard's Walk
Break out our near doubles game “Wizard’s Walk” for an engaging way to practice the near doubles strategy.
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Adding Doubles Board Game
Play our adding doubles board game to give your students a chance to practice their addition fact fluency.
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Arrays and Repeated Addition Interactive Task Cards
Use our arrays and repeated addition interactive task cards to introduce multiplication in a way your learners will more easily understand.
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Modeling Addition Word Problem Worksheets
Encourage modeling with these addition word problem worksheets that provide practice with real-world addition scenarios.
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Addition Within 100 Bar Model Worksheet
Explore using the bar model to add numbers within 100 with this simple worksheet for your Year 2 students.
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Two-Digit Addition Using the Split Strategy – Poster and Worksheets
Teach your students how to use partitioning for two-digit addition with this ice cream-themed poster and worksheets.
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Combinations of 10 and 20 Posters
Easily recognize combinations of 10 and combinations of 20 with this visual poster set.
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Standard Algorithm Addition – Teaching Slides
Use these editable, interactive teaching slides to guide your students through standard algorithm addition with regrouping.
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Kindergarten Math Activity - Christmas Addition Facts Up to 10 Puzzle
Review addition facts up to 10 with a printable Christmas math activity for Kindergarten.
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Christmas Math Worksheets - Sums to 12 Activity
Practice finding number bonds and sums to 12 using printable Christmas Math worksheets for first grade.
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Hide-a-Turkey Kindergarten Math Worksheet
Hide the turkeys and practice sums to ten with a fun Thanksgiving math worksheet for Kindergarten.
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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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Addition by Regrouping Classroom Poster
Learn the steps to addition with regrouping with this simple classroom poster.