Lesson: Making 10 (Kindergarten)

Two numbers can join together to make 10. Let's find them!

Look at the ten frame

A ten frame is a box with 10 spaces. Look at the dots.

There are 7 blue dots. There are 3 orange dots. Together they fill the box. So 7 + 3 = 10.

All the ways to make 10

Count the dots in each row. Every row has 10.

Did you see it? When the orange side gets one more, the blue side gets one less. The total stays 10.

They also work the other way: 9 + 1, 8 + 2, 7 + 3, and 6 + 4. And 10 + 0 makes 10 too!

Use your fingers

1. Hold up both hands. That's 10 fingers.
2. Put down 3 fingers.
3. How many are still up? 7.

So 3 and 7 make 10. Try it with other numbers!

Game: "How many more?"

Say a number. Your child says how many more make 10.

• "I have 8." → 2 more
• "I have 5." → 5 more
• "I have 1." → 9 more

Play it in the car or at dinner. One minute is enough.

Practice

Print the Making 10 worksheets. Start with Easy.