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.
- Plus Plan
Split Strategy Worksheet
Practise using the split strategy when adding two-digit numbers with this worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Compensation Strategy Addition Interactive Activity
Practise using the addition compensation strategy with this fun interactive activity.
- Plus Plan
Counting On: Addition Strategy Worksheet
Practise the “counting on” addition strategy to solve addition problems to 20.
- Plus Plan
Bunny Number Lines - Addition and Subtraction Task Cards
Hop like a bunny to practise addition and subtraction on a number line.
- Plus Plan
Adding and Subtracting Decimals — Small Group Bingo Game
Review how to add and subtract decimals with a printable small group bingo game.
- Plus Plan
Counting On Teaching Presentation
Introduce the early addition concept of ‘counting on’ to your students with this teaching presentation.
- Free Plan
Addition Strategies: Using Doubles Worksheet
Consolidate your students' understanding of the 'near doubles' addition strategy with this basic worksheet.
- 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
Colouring by Larger Numbers - Operations
Colouring pages to be used when working with operations.
- Plus Plan
Addition Bingo – Numbers 0–50
32 different bingo cards using addition and numbers from 0-50.
- Plus Plan
Making 10 – Number Facts Board Game
A fun hands-on game students can play to consolidate their knowledge of making 10.
- Plus Plan
Double Minus One - Dice Roll Worksheet
A worksheet to help students demonstrate their understanding of near doubles.
- 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.
- Free Plan
Lady Beetle Adding Activity
A fun and simple adding activity to consolidate simple addition.
- Plus Plan
4-Digit Place Value Card Game - Race to 10 000
A fun game for students to play in small groups to consolidate their understanding of adding and subtracting in groups of 10, 100 and 1000.
- Plus Plan
Plan a Halloween Party – Estimation Project
Plan your own Halloween party and practice estimating sums, differences and products of whole numbers and decimals with an engaging maths project!
- Plus Plan
Cut & Paste Fact Family Worksheets
Use these fact family houses worksheet set to practise addition and subtraction fact families with your students, as well as fine motor skills.
- 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.
- Plus Plan
Number Talks - Double Digit Addition Task Cards
Build number sense skills with this set of 24 task cards.
- Plus Plan
Addition Strategies to 20 Workmat
Practise using a variety of addition strategies to add numbers up to 20.
- Plus Plan
Addition Within 100 Bar Model - Interactive Mystery Picture
Take a deep dive using the bar model for addition within 100 with this fun mystery reveal interactive activity.
- 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
Adding and Subtracting Integers - Tarsia Puzzle
Practise adding and subtracting integers with a printable Tarsia puzzle!
- Plus Plan
Number Line Task Cards - Superhero Addition and Subtraction Activity
Fly through addition and subtraction on a number line with an exciting Number Line Superhero task card activity.
- Plus Plan
Addition Strategies: Make a Ten Worksheet
A 2-page worksheet that uses ten frames to model the “making ten” addition strategy.
- Plus Plan
Rainbow Facts Matching Activity
Practise number bonds with this fun rainbow-themed hands-on activity.
- Plus Plan
The Addition Quest – Whole Class Game
Find the hidden gems and place their numbers into the correct positions on the worksheet to solve the sums.
- Free Plan
Adding 2-Digit Numbers Task Cards
Practice adding 2-digit numbers with this set of 18 number sentence task cards.
- Plus Plan
Classroom Spinner Template - Maths Equations
Classroom spinner template focusing on maths equations using addition and subtraction.
- Plus Plan
Mental Maths Addition Posters
Use this set of addition posters in your classroom when teaching different mental maths strategies.
- Plus Plan
Doubles to Twenty
A set of 20 posters to help students remember double numbers to ten.
- Plus Plan
Think Big, Count Small - Addition Dominoes
A set of addition dominoes to use in the classroom when applying counting on strategies.