Skill: Use a ten frame

Explanation and Free Practice Resources

A ten frame represents quantities from 0 to 10 through one-to-one placement in a fixed five-and-five arrangement, making benchmark quantities such as 5 and 10, as well as numbers decomposed into 5 and additional ones, visually apparent. Extending to two ten frames supports representing 11–20 as one full ten and some additional ones, developing counting-on, comparison, composition and decomposition, and the foundations of place value; more advanced multi-digit uses are not included.

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Detailed Explanation: Use a ten frame

A ten frame is a set of 10 spaces arranged in two rows of 5. Place one object in each space, starting on the left. This helps you see groups of 5 and how many more are needed.

Example: Show $7$ on a ten frame.

Start with an empty ten frame:

[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
[ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]

Place one counter in each space from left to right. Stop after placing 7 counters:
```
[●] [●] [●] [●] [●]
[●] [●] [ ] [ ] [ ]
```
Count the counters. The first row has $5$ , and the second row has $2$ more.

7 = 5 + 2

So, the ten frame shows $7$ as 5 and 2 more.

Learn by doing: Use a ten frame

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Ten Groups - Add, With Carry, Less than 20

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