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Teaching combinations of 10 {math activity for kids}

1 Comment Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st Grade

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QBoy has shown a lot of interest in numbers and basic addition problems. He has mastered numbers 1 through 10 (and beyond).  He loves it when we practice mental math, which at his age mostly consists of problems like “How much is 3 + 1?” and “If you have 5 apples and I take 2, how many will you have left?” He is already grouping items to make counting easier, such as when he looked at the number of toes on a bobcat and said “2 and 2 makes 4!” rather than counting them out.

The activity I share below is about teaching combinations of 10. I made a very simple printable and used dot stickers to increase his interest in the activity. He enjoyed the activity and totally got my objectives for it, so it was a win-win in my book!

Note: For more resources, printables and activities related to math, please see my math activities for kids page.

Teaching combinations of 10 - a fun way to teach kids about all the different addition combinations that equal 10. This activity also provides a great introduction to the commutative property of addition, which says that when two numbers are added, the sum is the same regardless of the order of the addends. #handsonmath || Gift of Curiosity

I created a simple printable for this activity that included 10 rows of 10 boxes each. Down the left side, I wrote the numbers 1 through 9 in ascending order next to each row. Down the right side, I wrote the numbers 9 through 1 in descending order next to each row.

Teaching combinations of 10 1

I gave QBoy some yellow and green dot stickers to put into the boxes. The idea was for him to fill in each row with yellow stickers equal to the number on the left side and green stickers equal to the number on the right side.

Teaching combinations of 10 2

As he worked through the activity, he noticed that his stickers were creating a pattern.

Teaching combinations of 10 3

And when he finished filling in his worksheet, we talked about the first and last rows (1+9 and 9+1).  I pointed out that adding 1+9 was equal to 10 just as adding 9+1 was equal to 10. In this way I was giving QBoy a basic introduction to the commutative property of addition, which says that when two numbers are added, the sum is the same regardless of the order of the addends.

Teaching combinations of 10 4

We repeated this exercise for a few more rows (e.g., 2+8 and 8+2, 3+7 and 7+3). He clearly understood the lesson. And he was really proud of his work. So I was one happy mama. 🙂

More resources for teaching math

More math activities from Gift of Curiosity:

  • Building a 3D rainbow measurement activity
  • Advanced sorting with Venn diagrams
  • Adding with chain links
  • Matching and ordering by size
  • Estimating an apple’s circumference
  • Introduction to probability
  • Math practice with numbered dice
  • Put the numbers on the clothesline
  • Road numbers


For more activities, resources, and printables for teaching math, see my Math Activities for Kids page and my Math Pinterest board. 

Follow Katie @ Gift of Curiosity’s board Math on Pinterest.

Filed Under: Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st Grade, Math

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1 Comment

  1. Natalie PlanetSmartyPants

    June 1, 2014 at 7:34 pm

    Great way to teach groups of 10! My daughter really got it when it was presented to her as “10 frame” in combinations of 5 and 5…. Thanks for linking up to After School!

    Reply to this comment

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