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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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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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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2-Digit Addition Color by Number- Halloween Mystery Picture
Celebrate the coming of Halloween and practice adding 2-digit numbers up to 99 with a set of addition color by number worksheets.
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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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Mixed Operations Minute Math Booklet (Higher-Level Version)
Incorporate this mental math drills booklet into your math lesson warm-up (or assessment) routine.
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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 Numbers Addition Worksheet
Practice addition involving 2- and 1-digit numbers with this drill and practice 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 Worksheet
A worksheet to use when reviewing different addition strategies.
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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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Bump! Addition to 10 Game
A board game to practice addition facts to 10.
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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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Color By Number - Mental Math Practice
A set of 5 color by number sheets that can be used to practice mental math.
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Addition Strategy - Decompose, Then Make 10 Worksheet
Build addition strategies using digits 1-10 with this two-page decomposing numbers worksheet.
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Number Talks - Fluency to 20 Task Cards
Build number sense skills with this set of 24 task cards.
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Number Talks - Balancing Equations Task Cards
Build number sense skills with this set of 40 task cards.
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Word Problem Task Cards: Addition and Subtraction Within 10
Practice addition and subtraction within 10 with this set of 18 word problem task cards.
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Target Number Math Warm-up Activity
A great math warm-up activity where students brainstorm number sentences that equal a 'target number'.
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Math Mazes - Two-digit Addition
Practice adding two-digit numbers with this set of differentiated math mazes.
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Dinosaur Math - Addition and Subtraction (Version 2)
Solve the addition and subtraction number sentences to color the dinosaur.
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Doubles Minus One - Worksheet
Practice the doubles minus one addition strategy with this one-page worksheet.
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Doubles Plus One - Grid Game
Practice the doubles plus one addition strategy with this dice game.
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Doubles Plus One - Dice Roll Worksheet
Practice the doubles plus one addition strategy with this one-page worksheet.
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Doubles Minus One - Dice Roll Worksheet
Practice the doubles minus one addition strategy with this one-page worksheet.
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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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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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Addition to 20 Activity - Winter Math Puzzle for 1st Grade
Practice addition facts up to 20 with a printable winter math puzzle for kindergarten and first-grade students.
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Thanksgiving Escape Room - The Stolen Feast
Play a Thanksgiving Escape Room game and practice two-and-three digit addition for holiday fun!
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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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Thanksgiving Math Tales - Kindergarten Math Problems
Solve story problems using models with a Thanksgiving Story Problem interactive activity for kindergarten.