Math Grade 1: Operations
Concept 4: Addition Foundations (Sums to 10)
-
Ten Friends by Bruce Goldstone explores all the ways to make 10 through vibrant photography and clear visual models. Each page shows a different combination with real objects.
How to use it: Study each page to find the two groups that make 10. Use household objects to recreate each combination. Play "make 10" games: "I have 7 buttons, how many more do I need to make 10?" Master all the ways to make 10—this is the foundation for future addition strategies.
View on Amazon | Read Aloud on YouTubeTen Apples Up On Top! by Dr. Seuss Classic Dr. Seuss counting story where animals balance apples on their heads—wonderful for counting and adding to 10.
How to use it: Count apples with each character, then combine: "Lion has 3, dog has 2—that's 5 apples up on top!" Act it out with blocks or stuffed animals balancing objects. Practice addition facts while enjoying rhythmic, rhyming text.
View on Amazon| Read Aloud on YouTubeMission: Addition by Loreen Leedy Engaging story that introduces addition basics through relatable scenarios. Clear visual models support understanding.
How to use it: Read and discuss the different addition situations in the story. Act out similar scenarios with household objects. Create your own addition missions: "Mission: find out how many shoes are by the door!"
View on Amazon | Read Aloud on YouTubeJack the Builder by Stuart J. Murphy Shows counting on strategy through building context. Helps children see addition as more than counting all.
How to use it: Practice "counting on" like Jack does—start with the bigger number and count up. Use blocks to build like Jack. Start with 5 blocks, add 3 more by counting "6, 7, 8."
View on Amazon| Read Aloud on YouTube
Gus the Plus by Emily Barnes personifies the plus sign, helping children understand what addition means and when to use it.
How to use it: Look for "Gus situations" in daily life—anytime things are combined or joined. Practice writing the plus sign. Create addition stories: "When do we need Gus? When we put things together!"
View on Amazon| Read Aloud on YouTube -
Two-Color Counters (200 count) Essential for showing addition combinations. Children physically combine groups and see both parts and the whole. Two colors help distinguish addends.
How to use it: Start with simple combinations—put 3 red on one side, 2 yellow on the other. Push them together: "3 plus 2 equals 5!" Practice all combinations for numbers 5-10. Use different colors to show that 3+2 looks different than 2+3 but equals the same amount.
View on AmazonConnecting Cubes (100-200 pieces) Build number towers and physically connect them to show addition. Visual representation of combining quantities.
How to use it: Build a tower of 4 cubes and a tower of 3 cubes. Connect them: "4 plus 3 equals 7!" Take them apart and reconnect in different orders. Build all the ways to make 10 with two colors.
View on AmazonTen Frame Set (4-pack with counters) Critical tool for developing mental math strategies. Shows numbers in relation to 10, building foundation for making 10 strategy.
How to use it: Fill frames to show addition: put 6 counters in one frame, 3 in another, slide them together into one frame to show 9. Practice "making 10"—if you have 7, how many more to fill the frame? Show that 8+2 fills the frame exactly.
View on AmazonRekenrek/Counting Frame (20 beads) Two rows of 10 beads (5 red, 5 white per row) help children visualize addition combinations and develop five-based and ten-based thinking.
How to use it: Slide beads to show addition: push 4 beads on top row, 3 on bottom row—count all to find 7. Practice making 5s and 10s. Show combinations: 5+3 is a full top row plus 3 more.
View on AmazonSum Swamp by Learning Resources Board game where players navigate a swamp by rolling dice, adding them, and moving to the next addition square. Builds fluency through play.
How to use it: Roll two number dice, add them together, find that sum on the board and move there. Players practice addition facts repeatedly in a fun game format. No worksheet drudgery—just engaging gameplay that builds automaticity.
View on AmazonConnecting Number Bonds Set by Lakeshore Learning physical manipulative that shows part-part-whole relationships. Two smaller sections connect to show how they make the whole.
How to use it: Place counters in the two "part" sections (like 6 and 4), connect them to the "whole" section to show 10 total. Take apart and reconnect to show different combinations. Visual and tactile representation of how parts combine to make wholes.
View on AmazonAddition & Subtraction Learning Board: Montessori-style wooden board with tiles showing addition and subtraction problems with visual representations. Hands-on practice for building fluency.
How to use it: Start with addition side. Match problem tiles to answer tiles. Use the visual dots to count and verify answers. Practice finding all combinations that add up to a target number. Self-correcting design builds independence and confidence.
View on AmazonSplash Math Game: Addition & Subtraction Water-themed board game where players race to solve addition problems. Builds speed and accuracy through competitive play.
How to use it: Players move along the board solving addition equations as they go. The game format makes practice engaging and fast-paced. Race against opponents to reach the finish line while answering addition problems correctly. Perfect for building fact fluency through repeated, motivating practice.
View on Amazon -
1. Twenty Cup Stack
Materials: 20 paper or plastic cups, a marker
Write numbers 1-20 on the cups.
Challenge your child to stack cups in order from 1 to 20.
Variation: Stack only odd numbers, even numbers, or count by 2s. Race to see who can build the tower fastest!
2. String Number Line
Materials: Long shoelace or string, clothespins, paper scraps, marker
Write numbers 1-20 on scraps and clip them to the string in order.
Remove some numbers and have your child fill in the gaps.
Advanced: Only put up every 5th number (5, 10, 15, 20) and have them insert the missing numbers in between.
3. Coin Grab & Count
Materials: A jar of pennies (about 20)
Player grabs a handful, counts them one by one.
Try again—can you grab exactly 10? Exactly 15?
Variation: Use a timer—how many times can they count to 20 in one minute?
4. Pantry Count & Sort
Materials: Cans, boxes, snack packs, or any pantry items
Ask your child to line them up and count them.
Guess the total first, then verify by counting.
Extra: "Show me exactly 12 items" or "Put all the boxes in one group and all the cans in another—which has more?"
5. Rolling Race to 20
Materials: One die, paper with numbers 1-20 written or printed, crayons
Start at 1, roll the die, count forward that many spaces, and color that number.
Keep rolling and coloring until you reach 20.
Extra: Play with a partner—who reaches 20 first?
6. Number Jump (The Floor is Lava!)
Materials: Paper scraps or painter's tape, marker
Write numbers 1-20 on paper and scatter them on the floor.
Call out a number and your child jumps to it, shouting the number as they land.
Variation: "Jump to all the numbers between 5 and 10!" or "Only land on numbers that come after 12!"
7. Treasure Hunt Count
Materials: Small toys or objects, paper bags or baskets
Hide 15-20 small objects around a room.
Your child hunts for them and counts as they collect: "1 car, 2 cars, 3 cars..."
Variation: "Find exactly 8 treasures" or "Collect items and sort them—how many of each type did you find?"
8. Snack Counter
Materials: Small snacks (crackers, berries, cereal pieces)
Count out exact amounts for snack time: "Can you give me 8 goldfish?"
Arrange snacks in different patterns (line, circle, groups of 2).
Variation: Practice "fair shares"—divide 12 crackers equally between 3 people.
9. Staircase Stomp
Materials: Just a staircase!
Count steps out loud as you climb—one number per step.
Go backwards on the way down.
Variation: Stomp extra loud on every 5th number, or jump on the number that matches your child's age.
10. Playdough Number Factory
Materials: Playdough, small objects (buttons, beads, pasta)
Roll "snakes" to form the shape of numbers 1-20.
Press the correct number of objects into each playdough number.
Variation: Build 3D numbers or form numbers with bodies on the floor.
-
1. Create a Counting Book
Why it's powerful: Combines counting, creativity, number writing, and ownership. Children return to books they create again and again.
How to do it: Use 10-20 pages (construction paper stapled or a small notebook). Each page features one number with drawings, stickers, or magazine cutouts of that quantity. Read it together frequently and let your child "read" it to others.
2. Number Scavenger Hunt Challenge
Why it's powerful: Extends counting beyond worksheets into everyday observation. Builds flexible thinking about quantities.
How to do it: Create a simple checklist with drawings or photos. Keep it visible (fridge, clipboard). Check off items as you find them together throughout the week: "Find something that comes in 2s," "Find 10 of something," "Find the number 7 somewhere." Celebrate completion with a small reward or special activity.
3. Counting Museum
Why it's powerful: Long-term project that makes counting tangible and visible. Children become "experts" who can teach visitors about their museum.
How to do it: Use small containers or boxes labeled 1-20. Your child finds objects to match each number (1 special rock, 2 toy cars, 3 crayons, etc.). Rotate collections weekly. Have your child give "museum tours" to family members, counting each collection.
4. Number Memory Game Tournament
Why it's powerful: Reinforces number recognition through repetition and play. Builds memory skills while practicing counting and matching.
How to do it: Create pairs of number cards (two 1s, two 2s, etc.) up to 10 or 20. Mix them face-down. Take turns flipping two cards—if they match, keep the pair and count how many pairs you have. Play daily for a week and track high scores. Host a family tournament at the end of the week with prizes for most pairs collected.
Concept 5: Subtraction Foundations (Numbers within 10)
-
Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow: Classic counting-down story where monkeys fall off the bed one by one. Perfect introduction to subtraction as "taking away."
How to use it: Act out the story with stuffed animals or toys. Start with 5, take away 1 each time. Count how many are left. Create your own countdown stories: "5 cookies on the plate, I ate 1, now there are 4!" Write subtraction equations for each page: 5-1=4, 4-1=3.
View on Amazon | Read Aloud on YouTubeTen Little Fish by Audrey Wood: Ten fish swim away one by one in this beautifully illustrated countdown book. Shows subtraction in an engaging ocean setting.
How to use it: Count down from 10 as each fish leaves. Discuss where each fish goes and why. Use toys or drawings to recreate: start with 10, take away 1 at a time. Practice writing equations: 10-1=9, 9-1=8. Ask: "How many fish left? How many swam away?"
View on Amazon | Read Aloud on YouTubeMonster Musical Chairs by Stuart J. Murphy: Monsters play musical chairs, creating different addition combinations as they sit down. Shows addition in action through a familiar game.
How to use it: Act out the story with stuffed animals and chairs. Count monsters in different groups: "3 on chairs plus 4 standing equals 7 monsters!" Play your own musical chairs and create addition sentences for each round.
View on Amazon| Read Aloud on YouTubeSubtraction Action by Loreen Leedy: Engaging animal characters explore subtraction through relatable scenarios. Clear visual models support understanding of taking away and comparing.
How to use it: Read and discuss the different subtraction situations. Act out similar scenarios with household objects. Notice the different types of subtraction: taking away, comparing, finding what's missing. Create your own "subtraction action" stories throughout the day.
View on Amazon | Read Aloud on YouTubeElevator Magic by Stuart J. Murphy: Children ride an elevator down, subtracting floors as they go. Makes counting backwards and subtraction concrete through a familiar experience.
How to use it: Practice counting backwards like the elevator going down. Start at floor 10, subtract 3—which floor are you on? Use building blocks to create floors and physically move down. Connect to real elevator rides: "We're on floor 5, going down 2 floors. Where will we be?"
View on Amazon | Read Aloud on YouTube
Teeth, Tails, & Tentacles: An Animal Counting Book by Christopher Wormell Counts up to 10 then back down, showing both addition and subtraction. Beautiful woodcut illustrations make numbers memorable.
How to use it: Count up to 10 with the animals, then count back down. Practice both directions: adding and subtracting. Use the pattern to create your own counting up and down stories. Notice how subtraction is the opposite of addition.
View on Amazon | Read Aloud on YouTube
Mouse Count by Ellen Stoll Walsh Mice are captured one by one, then escape—shows both adding and taking away. Simple, engaging story perfect for acting out.
How to use it: Use toy mice or counters to follow along. Count as mice are added to the jar, then count as they escape. Write both addition and subtraction equations. Discuss: "When mice went in, we added. When they escaped, we subtracted. These are opposite actions!"
View on Amazon | Read Aloud on YouTube
12 Ways to Get to 11 by Eve Merriam While focused on addition combinations, this book brilliantly shows how subtraction is the inverse: if these combinations make 11, you can subtract to break 11 apart.
How to use it: After exploring how to make 11, reverse it: "If 7+4=11, then 11-7=? and 11-4=?" Use objects to show both operations. This builds deep understanding of the addition-subtraction relationship.
View on Amazon | Read Aloud on YouTube -
Melon Rind Jump 1 by Melon Rind focused specifically on adding and subtracting 1—the foundational skill for counting forward and backward.
How to use it: Players practice the essential skill of adding 1 (counting on) and subtracting 1 (counting back). These "plus or minus 1" facts are the building blocks for all other addition and subtraction. The game format makes this critical practice fun and memorable. Master these facts first, and all other facts become easier!
View on AmazonPop for Addition and Subtraction! Game by Learning Resources Fast-paced game where children pop bubbles while solving subtraction problems. Builds fluency through engaging play.
How to use it: Roll the dice to create a subtraction problem, then race to pop the correct answer bubble. The popping action adds excitement and keeps children motivated to practice. Multiple players can compete, or play solo against the clock. Perfect for making subtraction fact practice fun and memorable.
View on AmazonCloud Hoppers Addition and Subtraction Game Sky-themed board game where players hop across clouds while solving addition and subtraction problems. Makes practice playful and engaging.
How to use it: Draw a card with an addition or subtraction problem, solve it, then move that many spaces along the cloud path. The whimsical theme keeps children engaged while building fluency with both operations. Practice switching between adding and subtracting—an important skill for mental flexibility.
View on Amazon -
1. Countdown Stories
Materials: 5-10 small toys or objects
Start with a group of objects and create a countdown story: "5 birds on a branch, 2 fly away..."
Remove objects one at a time as you tell the story.
Count what remains after each subtraction. Write the equation: 5-2=3.
Variation: Let your child create countdown stories for you to act out and solve.
2. Take Away Game
Materials: 10 small objects (blocks, crackers, coins), cup or container
Place objects in a group. Count them together.
Cover some with the cup: "I'm hiding 3. How many can you still see?"
Child counts visible objects, then figures out how many are hidden.
Variation: Start with the total covered, reveal some, ask how many are still hidden.
3. Crossing Out Subtraction
Materials: Paper, markers, stickers or stamps
Draw or stamp a group of objects (like 7 stars).
Cross out some (cross out 4 stars).
Count what's NOT crossed out: 3 stars remain! Write the equation: 7-4=3.
Variation: Create a subtraction picture book with different scenarios on each page.
4. Roll and Subtract
Materials: Two dice, paper and pencil
Roll both dice. Subtract the smaller number from the larger.
Write the equation and solve: "I rolled 6 and 2, so 6-2=4!"
Keep playing, tracking all subtraction problems you create.
Variation: Roll one die and always subtract from 10 to practice "subtract from 10" facts.
5. Subtraction War
Materials: Deck of cards (remove face cards)
Each player flips two cards and subtracts the smaller from the larger.
Largest difference wins all four cards.
Simple, repetitive practice that builds fact fluency. Aces = 1.
Variation: Smallest difference wins, or exact match of differences wins all cards on table.
6. Number Line Hop Back
Materials: Number line (floor mat, tape on floor, or drawn with chalk)
Start at a number, call out a subtraction: "Start at 9, subtract 4!"
Child hops backwards 4 spaces and announces the answer: "5!"
Take turns creating subtraction problems for each other.
Variation: Time how fast child can solve 5 subtraction problems by hopping.
7. Hide and Seek Subtraction
Materials: 10 small objects, two containers
Count out 10 objects together.
Hide some in one container, the rest in another. Don't let child see how many are in each!
Show one container: "Here are 6. How many must be hiding?" (10-6=4)
Variation: Let child hide objects and quiz you.
8. Eating Subtraction
Materials: 10 small snacks (goldfish, cheerios, grapes)
Count snacks together: "We have 8 crackers!"
Child eats some: "You ate 3. How many are left?"
Count remaining snacks. Write the subtraction equation: 8-3=5.
Variation: Start with more snacks, subtract in multiple rounds, track the equations.
9. Part-Part-Whole Subtraction
Materials: Part-part-whole mat (drawn or printed), counters
Put 9 counters in the "whole" box.
Move 4 counters to one "part" box. How many are left for the other part?
This shows subtraction as finding the missing piece: 9-4=5.
Variation: Give only the total and one part—child finds the other part each time.
10. Comparison Subtraction
Materials: Two groups of objects (like 7 blocks and 4 blocks)
Line up objects in two rows to compare.
"Which group has more? How many more?"
Count the difference: 7-4=3 more!
Variation: Create comparison scenarios: "You have 5 toys, I have 8. How many more do I have?"
11. Domino Subtraction
Materials: Set of dominoes
Use dominoes as ready-made subtraction problems.
Find the difference between the two sides: if one side has 6 dots and the other has 2, the difference is 4.
Variation: Find all dominoes with a difference of exactly 3 (or any target number).
12. Mystery Number Subtraction
Materials: Paper, pencil, small objects for solving
Give subtraction clues: "I started with 9. I took away some. Now I have 5. How many did I take away?"
Child uses objects to figure it out: 9-?=5, so ?=4
Variation: Let child create mystery subtraction problems for you.
13. Backwards Counting Practice
Materials: Just your voices!
Practice counting backwards from different numbers: "10, 9, 8, 7..."
Make it fun: "Rocket countdown! 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BLAST OFF!"
Connect to subtraction: "Counting back is what we do when we subtract!"
Variation: Count backwards by 2s, or start from different numbers each time.
-
1. Subtraction Treasure Hunt
Why it’s powerful:
Turns subtraction into an active adventure. Children physically experience “taking away” as they collect and count. Builds memory, sequencing, and number sense.
How to do it:
Hide 10–20 small objects around a room or garden. Start with a visible total on a tray (say 15 shells). Each time your child finds one, take it away from the tray and say the equation: “15 - 1 = 14.” Continue until all are gone.
Variation: Start with 20 and hide 5 at a time — subtract in chunks (“20 - 5 = 15”).
2. Bowling Alley Builders
Why it’s powerful:
Incorporates gross motor skills and repeated subtraction practice through real action. Every roll is a math problem in disguise.
How to do it:
Set up 10 cups or empty bottles as bowling pins. Each turn, knock some down and count how many are left standing. Write or shout the equation after every roll (“10 - 4 = 6”).
Variation: Play cooperative mode — how many turns until all pins are gone?
3. Pop & Drop Balloon Subtraction
Why it’s powerful:
Adds excitement and anticipation to math! Children visually and physically experience “taking away” as balloons disappear.
How to do it:
Blow up 10 balloons. Label them 1–10. Pop one balloon at a time and count how many remain.
Variation: For noise-sensitive environments, let the balloons drop or deflate instead of popping.
4. Toy Rescue Mission
Why it’s powerful:
Makes subtraction meaningful through storytelling and sensory play — turning every equation into a mini-drama.
How to do it:
Line up 10 toy animals “stuck” in a paper jungle. Rescue a few each round (“We saved 3 tigers — 10 - 3 = 7 left!”). Continue until all are safe.
Variation: Time each round and graph how many you rescued each turn.