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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Counting On 2 and 3 – Number Facts Board Game
A fun hands-on game students can play to consolidate their knowledge of counting on by 2 and 3.
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Subtracting From 10 – Number Facts Board Game
A fun hands-on game students can play to consolidate their knowledge of subtracting from 10.
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Double Plus One - Worksheet
A worksheet to help students demonstrate their understanding of near doubles.
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Double Plus One - Grid Worksheet
A fun worksheet to help students demonstrate their understanding of near doubles.
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Ten Frame Printable Templates
Use these printable ten frames in various math lessons to reinforce number sense and other essential skills.
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Spooky Sums Tarsia Puzzle – 3-Digit Addition
Practice three-digit addition skills with a Halloween pumpkin tarsia puzzle.
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Fact Families Maths Group Activity
Use this hands-on addition and subtraction strategy activity in your next guided math group lesson!
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Bridge to Ten Addition Strategy Task Cards
Help students quickly bridge to ten to assist with their addition strategies using linking cubes.
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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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Compensation Strategy Addition Mini Book
Use this mini-book to help your students learn how to use the compensation strategy to solve addition sums.
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Split Strategy Addition Mini Book
Use this mini-book to help your students learn how to use the split strategy to solve addition sums.
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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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Addition Turnarounds Flip Flop Task Cards
Develop number sense with addition turnaround facts to 20 with these cute flip flop fact task cards.
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Split Strategy Addition Dominoes
A set of addition dominoes to use in the classroom when applying the split strategy.
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Adding Within 100 - Bar Model Match-Up Activity
Practise using the bar model to add numbers within 100 with this match-up activity.
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Jump Strategy Addition Game
Practise using the jump strategy for multi-digit addition with a fun maths game.
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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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Make Two Math Machine Worksheet
A worksheet to use when practising number patterns.
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Number Talks - Making Numbers Task Cards
Build number sense skills with this set of 20 task cards.
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Equation Tails Active Learning
A whole class active game that encourages learning through a physical setting.
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Number Ladders
Blank number ladders with space for sums.
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Maths Activity Ideas for Parents - Addition and Subtraction
An information sheet for parents or carers to use when assisting children with addition and subtraction at home.
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Counting On 1 – Number Facts Board Game
A fun hands-on game students can play to consolidate their knowledge of counting on by 1.
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Doubles Subtraction – Number Facts Board Game
A fun, hands-on game students can play to consolidate their knowledge of doubles subtraction.
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Double Minus One - Grid Worksheet
A fun worksheet to help students demonstrate their understanding of near doubles.
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1-10 Addition Flashcards - Stars (Horizontal)
One hundred and one addition flashcards with numbers 0-10.
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Combinations of 10 and 20 Posters
Easily recognise combinations of 10 and combinations of 20 with this visual poster set.
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Year 1 Halloween Addition Game - Roll-a-Potion
Roll and add to create a magic potion, then draw it in the cauldron with a printable Year 1 Halloween game.
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Addition Strategies Task Cards
Practise using the jump strategy, split strategy, compensation strategy and 100s chart strategy with this set of task cards.
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Hundreds Chart Strategy Addition Mini Book
Use this mini-book to help your students learn how to use the hundreds chart as a strategy to solve addition sums.
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Hundreds Chart Addition Strategy Interactive Activity
Practise using the hundreds chart as an addition strategy with this fun interactive activity.
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Blast Off Addition Strategy Interactive Activity
Practise four different addition strategies in this fun space-themed interactive activity.