1st GradeActivityMath15–20 minutes

Ten-Frame Number Builders

Skill taught: Building number sense using ten-frames and number combinations

A first-grade math activity for building number sense with ten-frames, counting, and number combinations.

Subject

Math

Type

Activity

Free printable
Time

15–20 minutes

Estimated

Materials Needed

  • β€’Printed ten-frame pages
  • β€’Pencil
  • β€’Small counters or coins (optional)

Directions

  1. 1.Place counters on the ten-frame to represent each number before drawing.
  2. 2.Fill ten-frames from left to right, top row first β€” this builds the standard orientation.
  3. 3.For number combination pages, find all the ways to make each number.
  4. 4.Record each combination as an addition equation.
  5. 5.Challenge: "How many ways can you make 10?" β€” this is the foundation of the make-a-ten strategy.

Parent Teaching Tip

Ten-frames are the most powerful visual model for number sense in first grade. A child who can instantly see "8 on a ten-frame means 2 away from 10" has the mental model needed for efficient addition and subtraction.

Skill Progression

Prerequisite skill

Counting to 10 with one-to-one correspondence

This resource

Ten-Frame Number Builders

Next skill

Addition and subtraction within 20 using the make-a-ten strategy

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