Make a Ten Strategy

About This Make a Ten Strategy — Addition

This free printable make a ten strategy worksheet gives students focused practice with joining groups and building addition fluency. Problems are sequenced from simple to more challenging so learners gain confidence before they meet larger numbers and word problems. Print on US Letter or A4 paper, and use the included answer key to check work quickly.

What Students Will Learn

Students learn to combine quantities accurately and flexibly. They practice basic facts, then apply them to two- and three-digit problems, spotting patterns like doubles and near-doubles. Repeated practice builds the automatic recall that later makes subtraction, multiplication, and multi-step problem solving much easier.

How Teachers Can Use This Worksheet

• Warm-up drill (5 minutes): Time the class on the first section and aim for accuracy first, speed second. Have students read answers aloud in pairs to reinforce number names.
• Hands-on stations (15 minutes): Pair the worksheet with counters, ten-frames, or base-ten blocks so kinesthetic learners can model each join before writing the answer.
• Exit ticket: Pick two problems for students to solve independently at the end of the lesson. A quick scan shows who is ready to move on and who needs a re-teach.

How Parents and Homeschoolers Can Use This Worksheet

Keep a small bowl of coins or dried beans nearby so your child can physically build each problem before writing it. Start with the easier rows and stop before frustration sets in — a short, daily session beats a long weekly one. When a mistake appears, ask "how did you get that?" instead of jumping to the answer; the explanation usually reveals whether it is a counting slip or a concept gap.

Skills Covered

addition facts · mental math · number sense · carrying/regrouping · problem solving

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