Bridging to Ten: Empowering Young Mathematicians

Bridging to ten is a powerful addition strategy that helps young mathematicians develop a solid foundation in two-digit addition. By leveraging the concept of tens, this strategy enhances students’ number sense, mental math skills, and understanding of place value. 

Bridging to ten involves decomposing or breaking down one of the addends to create a friendly number combination with the other addend totalling ten. This strategy utilises the fact that numbers can be manipulated to make calculations more manageable.

More About this Bridging to Ten Activity

This resource includes a handful of basic rainbow facts students need to complete; this is possibly where some students still need practise – so they can stay on these; however, the next set of task cards then involves numbers over ten and how you can use the bridging strategy to help with these larger addition equations.

Easily Prepare This Resource for Your Students

Use the dropdown icon on the Download button to choose between the PDF or Google Slides version of this resource. A recording sheet and answer key are also included with this download. 

Print on cardstock for added durability and longevity. Place all pieces in a folder or large envelope for easy access. 

To keep the task cards out of pockets or under desks, punch a hole in the corner of each to place them on a binder ring. 

Sustainability Tip: Print a few recording sheets on cardboard and slip them into write-and-wipe sleeves. Students can record their answers with a whiteboard marker, then erase and reuse them.  

This resource was created by Kendall Britnell, a teacher in Colorado and Teach Starter Collaborator.