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 maths problems.
This teaching resource collection was created by the teachers on the Teach Starter team for primary teachers like you. Each Australian curriculum-aligned resource has been carefully reviewed and curated by our expert teachers to ensure 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 maths operation that's easy for them to understand!
Addition is a maths 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
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 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.
For example, in the equation 2 + 3 = 5, 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 maths 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 maths 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 for 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.
- Free Plan
Number Talk Task Cards - Ten Frames
Build number sense skills with this set of 30 ten and double ten frame maths talk task cards.
- Plus Plan
Fact Family Find and Flip - Addition and Subtraction (Upper)
Addition and subtraction game cards demonstrating the relationship between fact families.
- Plus Plan
Number Talks - Double Digit Addition Task Cards
Build number sense skills with this set of 24 task cards.
- Plus Plan
Compensation Strategy Addition Interactive Activity
Practise using the addition compensation strategy with this fun interactive activity.
- Free Plan
Maths Action Words – Keyword Sign Free Printables
Help your students decipher maths word problems with a set of printable maths keyword sign free printables.
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Rainbow Numbers Poster
A poster showing rainbow numbers, or fact families to ten.
- Plus Plan
Number and Place Value Worksheets - Year 3
16 number worksheets linked to the Australian Curriculum.
- Plus Plan
Printable Maths Mats - Graphic Organisers
Practice working on specific math concepts with our set of 5 printable math graphic organisers.
- Plus Plan
Polygon Puzzles - Addition Worksheets with Answers
Line the sum up with the corresponding answer.
- Plus Plan
Emoji Equation Riddles - Determine the Unknown
Determine the value of an unknown variable in an equation with printable Emoji Maths Riddle task cards.
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Addition Strategies Exit Tickets
Assess student knowledge of different addition strategies with these printable exit tickets.
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Picture Addition Worksheet
A worksheet consolidating students' understanding of combining groups of items.
- Plus Plan
Addition by Regrouping Classroom Poster
Learn the steps to addition with regrouping with this simple classroom poster.
- Free Plan
Find 20 Addition Strategy Task Cards
Practise finding 20 with this set of linking cube task cards.
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Place Value to the Thousands Place - Maths Mats
Practise place value concepts, addition and subtraction with a printable set of place value charts.
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Fact Family Find and Flip - Addition and Subtraction (Lower)
Addition and subtraction game cards demonstrating the relationship between fact families.
- Free Plan
Hands and Numbers 1-10 Counting Activity Template
Teach counting from 1 to 10 and one-to-one correspondence with a creative (and free) printable activity.
- Plus Plan
Bridge to Ten Addition Strategy Task Cards
Help students quickly bridge to ten to assist with their addition strategies using linking cubes.
- Free Plan
Adding with the Bar Model Cut and Paste Worksheet
Practise adding two digit numbers using the bar model with this cut and paste worksheet.
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Missing Addend Addition Picture Puzzle – Level 3
Consolidate students’ addition skills with this missing addends worksheet.
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Bunny Number Lines - Addition and Subtraction Task Cards
Hop like a bunny to practise addition and subtraction on a number line.
- Free Plan
Lady Beetle Adding Activity
A fun and simple adding activity to consolidate simple addition.
- Plus Plan
Double-Digit Addition - Maths Task Cards
Practise adding 2-digit numbers with this set of 18 double-digit addition task cards.
- Plus Plan
Rainbow Number Facts Board Game
A fun, hands-on board game to consolidate students' understanding of the 'Friends of 10'.
- Free Plan
Making Ten Activity Mat
A template that encourages students to demonstrate multiple ways to make 10.
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Partitioning Teaching Presentation
Introduce the partitioning strategy to your students with this teaching presentation.
- Plus Plan
2-Digit + 1-Digit Numbers Addition Worksheet
Practice addition involving 2- and 1-digit numbers with this drill and practice worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Missing Addend Addition Picture Puzzle – Level 2
Consolidate students’ addition skills with this missing addends worksheet.
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Using Partitioning to Add Two-Digit Numbers - Poster and Worksheet
A poster and 2 worksheets relating to partitioning numbers.
- Plus Plan
Making 10 Number Bonds - Worksheet
A worksheet to practise the addition strategy of making 10.
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Number Talks - Making Ten Task Cards
Build number sense skills with this set of 20 task cards.
- Plus Plan
Split Strategy Addition Mini Book
Use this mini-book to help your students learn how to use the split strategy to solve addition sums.