Making ten to add means decomposing one addend so that part combines with the other addend to form 10, then adding the remainder—for example, 8 + 5 = 8 + 2 + 3 = 10 + 3 = 13. This strategy applies to addition facts with sums within 20 and can be represented with ten-frames, equations, or jumps on a number line; it emphasizes that decomposing an addend preserves the total and builds a foundation for place-value strategies, without extending to larger multi-digit numbers or generalized algebraic methods.
On this page:
- Learn “Make ten to add” with a detailed explanation of the concept
- Master “Make ten to add” with unlimited, free practice problems
- Download (or modify) a free worksheet on Make ten to add you can use at home or in class with practice problems that scaffold and explore “Make ten to add” from different perspectives.
- Start working on adaptive units like “Addition and Subtraction of Integers - 1 Digit” or “Addition and Subtraction of Integers - 1 and 2 Digit” that introduce, teach, or practice “Make ten to add” to maximize your learning.
Detailed Explanation: Make ten to add
To make ten, split one addend so that part joins the other addend to make .
Example:
- Ask: “How many more does need to make ?”
needs . - Split into and :
- Add the to to make :
- Add the rest:
So,
Learn by doing: Make ten to add
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Practice:
Ten Groups - Add, With Carry, Less than 20
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Download/Modify Free Grade 1 'Make ten to add' Worksheet
Print this free 'Make ten to add' worksheet to practice this skill away from the computer. Click 'Modify' to easily customize this worksheet to your exact needs.
This Worksheet Includes:
- Ten Groups - Add, With Carry, Less than 20
- Addition - Whole Number - Within 20 - Column
- Base 10 Blocks - Adding - Picture to Answer, With Carry - Tens and Ones
- Addition - Whole Number 1 digit + 1 digit, With Carry
- Ten Groups - To Next Ten, One Digit, Less than 10
- Addition - Whole Number - Number Bonds to 10
- Base 10 Blocks - Adding - Picture to Equation, With Carry - Tens and Ones
- Addition - Missing Value, To Ten
Units Teaching This Skill
These adaptive units introduce, teach, or reinforce this skill (Make ten to add) through scaffolded problems that grow in difficulty as concepts are understood.