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.
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Pizza-Themed Near Doubles Task Cards
Practise quick recall of near doubles facts with this cute pizza-themed task cards activity.
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Ten More and Ten Less - Cut and Paste Worksheet
Practise adding and subtracting 10 from given numbers within 100 in this cut-and-paste worksheet.
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Make Ten Worksheet
Practise early addition strategies of making ten with this worksheet.
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Teddy Tables – Addition and Sharing Game
A hands-on maths game that focuses on practical addition using teddy bear counters.
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Missing Addend Addition Picture Puzzle – Level 3
Consolidate students’ addition skills with this missing addends worksheet.
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Maths Mazes (Addition and Subtraction)
A set of puzzling mazes that require addition and subtraction skills to solve.
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Mental Maths Addition Posters
Use this set of addition posters in your classroom when teaching different mental maths strategies.
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Addition Strategy Spin Game
Have some fun all while practising different addition strategies with this fun classroom game.
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Counting On Game - Counting On 1
Play counting on games like this Counting On 1 board game to engage your early learners as they learn to add by counting on one.
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Friends of 10 Addition Poster Bundle
Print the ultimate Friends of 10 poster bundle with 10 printable classroom posters designed to show students how different combinations of numbers connect to make the same number.
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Adding within 1000 Expanded Form Worksheet
Practise using the split strategy by working through this expanded form addition worksheet.
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Adding and Subtracting Within 10 - Word Problem Task Cards
Solve word problems practicing addition and subtraction to ten with a set of printable task cards.
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Making Ten Memory Game
Practise making ten using ten frames with this fun memory game.
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Basketball Maths Craft Activity
Practise 2-3 digit addition (with and without regrouping) with a fun basketball-themed maths craft activity.
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Adding 2-Digit Numbers Task Cards
Practice adding 2-digit numbers with this set of 18 number sentence task cards.
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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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Bump! – Addition to 10 Game
An addition board game to help consolidate facts to ten.
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Addition Maze – Dog and Bone Worksheet
A worksheet to use to practise finding missing addends.
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Plus One and Minus One Math Machine Worksheet
A worksheet to practise generating a number that is one more than or one less than another number.
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Missing Addend Addition Picture Puzzle – Level 1
Build simple addition skills with this missing addends worksheet.
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The Addition Labyrinth – Maths Game
A dynamic addition board game for the classroom.
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Number Talks - Making Ten Task Cards
Build number sense skills with this set of 20 task cards.
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Double Plus One - Dice Roll Worksheet
A worksheet to help students demonstrate their understanding of near doubles.
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Near Doubles Activities - 'Wizard's Walk' Board Game
Play near doubles activities like our Wizard’s Walk board game for an engaging way to practise addition strategies.
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Double-Digit Addition - Maths Task Cards
Practise adding 2-digit numbers with this set of 18 double-digit addition task cards.
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Find 20 Addition Strategy Task Cards
Practise finding 20 with this set of linking cube task cards.
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Adding within 1000 Bar Model Match Up Activity
Practise using the bar diagram to add numbers within 1000 with this match up activity.
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Number Talk Task Cards - Ten Frames
Build number sense skills with this set of 30 ten and double ten frame maths talk task cards.
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Counting On Bingo
Practise counting on strategies with this bingo game.
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Basic Fact Cards
A set of 72 basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division fact cards.
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Addition Maze – Bike Ride Worksheet
A worksheet to use to practise finding missing addends.
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Double Plus One - Grid Worksheet
A fun worksheet to help students demonstrate their understanding of near doubles.