Addition Strategies Teaching Resources
Make teaching addition strategies easier this school year with worksheets, printables, maths games, and more created by primary teachers for primary teachers. Using strategies in maths teaches students to think flexibly about numbers and will help them develop automaticity.
This collection contains Australian V9 curriculum-aligned resources that are easy to edit so you can easily differentiate resources for your individual students!
Has it been a while since you taught maths, or at least this particular part of the curriculum? Read on for a primer from our teacher team!
What Are Addition Strategies?
The term addition strategies refers to the different methods and techniques that can be used by our students to solve addition problems. These strategies are an important part of developing fluency and building a deeper conceptual understanding — not to mention more efficient than counting as students flex their maths muscles!
6 Addition Strategy Examples That Help Primary Students Build Fluency
Looking for examples of some of the addition strategies that can help put your students on the path to a more procedural model? Here are a few that can be used side by side:
Counting On
This strategy involves starting with the larger number in a maths problem and counting on from there.
Counting On Example — If students are looking to find the sum of 7 + 3, they would start with 7 and count on 3 more (8, 9, 10).
Split Addition Strategy
Using the split addition strategy can be helpful when adding larger numbers. To use it, students will draw on their place value skills, breaking down numbers into their individual digits and adding them one column at a time, starting with the ones place, then the tens place, etc.
Split Addition Strategy Example — A student might want to add 37 and 48. To do this, they would follow three steps.
Step 1: Split the numbers based on place value: 37 = 30 + 7 48 = 40 + 8
Step 2: Add the corresponding parts separately: 30 + 40 = 70 7 + 8 = 15
Step 3: Combine the results: 70 + 15 = 85
Making 10
Finding ways to make one of the numbers a multiple of 10 and then adding the remaining number is called ' making 10' and can help early maths students.
Making 10 Strategy Example — If a student wants to find the sum of 7 + 4, they could make 7 into 10 by adding 3 and having 1 left to add on.
Doubles
The doubles strategy for addition is based on the fact that adding a number to itself is the same as doubling that number.
Doubles Strategy Example — To add 8 + 7, one can think of it as 7 + 7 (which equals 14) and then add one more to get 8 + 7 = 15.
Number Bonds
This addition strategy involves breaking the problem down into smaller parts that can be added together.
Number Bonds Strategy Example — To find the sum of 7 + 3, you could think of the problem as (5 + 2) + 3.
Maths Mentals
Rounding, front-end estimation and compensation can all help students get better at addition!
- Free Plan
Adding with the Bar Model Cut and Paste Worksheet
Practise adding two digit numbers using the bar model with this cut and paste worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Compensation Strategy Addition Mini Book
Use this mini-book to help your students learn how to use the compensation strategy to solve addition sums.
- Free Plan
Find 20 Addition Strategy Task Cards
Practise finding 20 with this set of linking cube task cards.
- Plus Plan
Split Strategy Addition Mini Book
Use this mini-book to help your students learn how to use the split strategy to solve addition sums.
- Plus Plan
Cut & Paste Fact Family Worksheets
Use these fact family houses worksheet set to practise addition and subtraction fact families with your students, as well as fine motor skills.
- Plus Plan
Split Strategy Addition Dominoes
A set of addition dominoes to use in the classroom when applying the split strategy.
- Plus Plan
Making 10 Number Bonds - Worksheet
A worksheet to practise the addition strategy of making 10.
- Plus Plan
Mental Maths Addition Posters
Use this set of addition posters in your classroom when teaching different mental maths strategies.
- Plus Plan
Doubles Leap Frog - Doubling Numbers Game
A fun game for students to play when doubling two digit numbers.
- Plus Plan
Addition within 20 Interactive Resource
Practise solving one-digit and two-digit addition problems using a variety of addition strategies with this interactive activity.
- Plus Plan
Counting On Cover Up Game
Practise the counting-on strategy with this fun cover-the-board game.
- Free Plan
Counting On Fact Families Worksheet
Begin from the larger number and count on to find the total with this worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Hundreds Chart Strategy Addition Worksheet Pack
Practise using the hundreds chart strategy with this worksheet set.
- Plus Plan
Fact Families Maths Group Activity
Use this hands-on addition and subtraction strategy activity in your next guided math group lesson!
- Plus Plan
Addition Strategy Mats
Practise using a variety of addition strategies to add 2-digit numbers.
- Plus Plan
Pizza-Themed Near Doubles Task Cards
Practise quick recall of near doubles facts with this cute pizza-themed task cards activity.
- Plus Plan
Number Line Task Cards - Superhero Addition and Subtraction Activity
Fly through addition and subtraction on a number line with an exciting Number Line Superhero task card activity.
- Plus Plan
Counting On – Word Problems
Extend students with this counting on word problem worksheet.
- Plus Plan
4-Digit Place Value Card Game - Race to 10 000
A fun game for students to play in small groups to consolidate their understanding of adding and subtracting in groups of 10, 100 and 1000.
- Plus Plan
Addition Strategies to 20 Workmat
Practise using a variety of addition strategies to add numbers up to 20.
- Plus Plan
Jump Strategy Addition Mini Book
Use this mini-book to help your students learn how to use the jump strategy to solve addition sums.
- Plus Plan
Addition Turnarounds Flip Flop Task Cards
Develop number sense with addition turnaround facts to 20 with these cute flip flop fact task cards.
- Plus Plan
Addition Within 100 Bar Model - Interactive Mystery Picture
Take a deep dive using the bar model for addition within 100 with this fun mystery reveal interactive activity.
- Plus Plan
Make Ten Worksheet
Practise early addition strategies of making ten with this worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Addition Strategies: Base-Ten Blocks Worksheet
Practice using the strategy of using base-10 blocks and regrouping to find the sum.
- Plus Plan
Combinations of 10 and 20 Posters
Easily recognise combinations of 10 and combinations of 20 with this visual poster set.
- Plus Plan
Halloween Addition Worksheets
Count on to solve spooky addition problems in this 2-page Halloween Addition Worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Hundreds Chart Strategy Addition Mini Book
Use this mini-book to help your students learn how to use the hundreds chart as a strategy to solve addition sums.
- Plus Plan
Rainbow Facts - Zero-Tail Game
Practise rainbow number facts when solving addition problems involving two-digit numbers with this fun game.
- Plus Plan
Blast Off Addition Strategy Interactive Activity
Practise four different addition strategies in this fun space-themed interactive activity.
- Plus Plan
Counting On Teaching Presentation
Introduce the early addition concept of ‘counting on’ to your students with this teaching presentation.
- Plus Plan
Hundreds Chart Addition Strategy Interactive Activity
Practise using the hundreds chart as an addition strategy with this fun interactive activity.