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25 Awesome Addition Activities That All Add Up to Fun

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Addition Activities

1 + 1 = 2. It’s the basic foundation for every child’s math education and the building block to a whole world of learning. Addition is usually the first of the four operations that kids tackle, and mastering it is key to success for years to come. Try these fun addition activities in the classroom or at home to help your students become math wizards in no time!

1. Build block towers.

Addition Activities

Lay out flashcards, and then use blocks to create towers that answer the problems. Addition activities like this incorporate visual and hands-on techniques, honoring a variety of learning strategies.

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2. Make a dice calculator.

addition problem solving activities

This is bound to be a ton of fun! Kids drop a die through each cup, then add up the numbers that fall through. So simple, and so enjoyable.  Learn how to make a dice calculator here.

3. Play a game of addition Jenga.

Addition Activities

Stick addition problems to the ends of Jenga blocks. Kids must solve the equation before they can attempt to remove the block.

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4. Create an addition apple tree.

addition problem solving activities

Hands-on addition activities really make learning stick. Learn how to make and use this adorable addition apple tree at the link.

Learn more: CBC Parents

5. Use stickers for hands-on practice.

Addition Activities

Sticker dots are inexpensive; you can usually pick them up at the dollar store. Little ones will really get a kick out of using them to answer a series of addition problems.

Learn more: Busy Toddler

6. Park and add some toy cars.

addition problem solving activities

Roll out the toy cars and trucks! Use them as math manipulatives as you work on your addition facts.

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7. Thread beads onto pipe cleaners.

Addition Activities

You can use pipe cleaners and beads for a variety of addition activities. In this one, put beads at opposite ends of a pipe cleaner, then bend them together and solve the equation.

Learn more: Creative Family Fun

8. Deal UNO cards.

addition problem solving activities

Use UNO cards or a regular deck with the face cards removed for this addition game. Simply lay out two cards and add them together!

Learn more: Planning Playtime

9. Cut out addition flowers.

Addition Activities

This pretty math craft gives kids a chance to work on addition activities like number bonds and mastering math facts. Get the free printable at the link.

Learn more: Fantastic Fun and Learning

10. Clip clothespins to a hanger.

addition problem solving activities

Who doesn’t love inexpensive math manipulatives you can put together yourself in a snap? Grab some hangers and clothespins to create these addition toys.

11. Fingerpaint addition clouds.

Addition Activities

What a sweet idea! Write addition problems on clouds, then use finger paints to add the correct number of raindrops underneath. 

Learn more: Preschool Play and Learn

12. Use sticky notes to make 10.

addition problem solving activities

Sticky notes have so many uses in the classroom. Write individual numbers on them, then use the notes to “make 10” or any other number you choose.

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13. Practice regrouping with LEGO bricks.

Addition Activities

When you’re ready to move onto slightly more advanced addition activities, use LEGO bricks to help kids understand the concept of regrouping. ( Find many more LEGO math ideas here. )

Learn more: Frugal Fun 4 Boys and Girls

14. Toss a beach ball.

addition problem solving activities

Jot numbers all over a beach ball using a Sharpie. Then, toss it to a student and wherever their thumbs land, have them add up the two numbers closest. Ready for trickier addition activities? Add up all the numbers their fingers are touching!

Learn more: Saddle Up for 2nd Grade

15. Twist up pool noodle equations.

addition problem solving activities

Who knew you could use pool noodles for so many cool things in the classroom ? We love this interchangeable equation maker, perfect for practicing addition facts.  Learn how to create a pool noodle equations maker here.

16. Assemble Play-Doh addition spiders.

addition problem solving activities

Nothing scary about these little spiders! They’re just here to help kids practice their math facts. Insert pipe cleaner legs and find the total!

Learn more: The Kindergarten Connections

17. Try mini-clothespins and wood craft sticks.

Addition Activities

Similar to the hanger activity above, this idea uses wood craft sticks and mini-clothespins. It’s a nice way to work in some fine motor skill practice too.

18. Pull out the dominoes.

addition problem solving activities

Here’s an easy one! Just turn dominoes sideways and they become math problems to be solved. Say them out loud, or write the equations for more practice.

Learn more: Simply Kinder

19. Grab a handful of toys.

Addition Activities

Kids will like the mystery element in this addition activity. Fill bags with small toys or mini erasers, then have them grab a handful from each and add them together!

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20. Color by number.

addition problem solving activities

Pull out the crayon box—it’s time to color by number! The twist? Kids have to solve the equations first to learn the right colors to pick. Get the free printables at the link.

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21. Add and sort dominoes.

Addition Activities

You can do a variety of addition activities with dominoes. For this version, lay out a number line, then sort the dominoes by the sum of their two sides.

22. Battle it out in Double Dice War.

addition problem solving activities

Have you ever seen dice-in-dice? They’re so cool, and kids can’t get enough of them. Play addition war by having each student roll a die and add the numbers together. The one with the higher sum wins. Got a tie? Break it by looking at the number on the outside die. ( Find more dice-in-dice games and activities here. )

23. Pick up some pom poms.

addition problem solving activities

Use double dice or regular ones along with a package of pom poms for this easy addition activity. Or try it with goldfish crackers for a tasty way to learn!

24. Flip a flashcard pancake.

addition problem solving activities

These pancakes aren’t very tasty, but they’re definitely a clever take on traditional flashcards. Kids will have fun flipping them with a spatula to check their answers.

Learn more: I Can Teach My Child

25. Be the first to fill your grid.

addition problem solving activities

Get the free printable game boards for this addition activity at the link. Kids roll the dice and try to be the first to make sums that fill in their grids.

Addition and number bonds go hand-in-hand. Discover 20 Terrific Number Bonds Activities here.

Plus, enhance early math skills with these clever 10 frame activities .

25 Awesome Addition Activities That All Add Up to Fun

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12 Hands-On Activities to Teach Addition

Addition can be a tricky concept for kindergarteners. After all, they may have just learned how to identify numbers and are still building a foundation of number sense. Now, they are putting numbers together to make new ones. It makes sense that this can be tough for kids. However, with these hands-on addition activities in your back pocket, you can help your students master this concept in a real-world, concrete way.

12 Hands-On Activities to Teach Addition

1: Sticky Note Addition

For this whole group, hands-on addition activity, the teacher begins by writing numbers on the whiteboard. These numbers will serve as the sums for the activity, so you can differentiate them by writing numbers to 5, 10, or beyond.

Next, the teacher passes out sticky notes with addition sentences written on them. Taking turns, students read their addition sentence aloud, find the sum, and stick their addition sentence over it to complete the equation.

2: Addition to 10 Boom Cards

This addition activity is a 2-for-1 when it comes to learning as it's both hands-on AND digital! These Addition to 10 Boom Cards allow students to practice various addition equations up to 10. Students will count the ladybugs in each jar and use the digital number tiles to build the equation.

They get 30 different digital task cards to practice with. That's not all, though. They are self-checking, too. Students get instant feedback and you save time grading. What a win!

12 Hands-On Activities to Teach Addition

3: Addition Towers

This hands-on addition activity requires nothing more than plastic math cubes and sticky notes or notecards. Simply prep the sticky notes or notecards with addition equations. You can even use the same sticky note equations from the first activity above. Students will draw an equation and model it using 2 colors of plastic math cubes.

Another way to do this activity in a small group is by laying out all of the sticky notes and having students choose an equation, model it, and place their cube tower on the equation, working together until all of the equations are covered.

4: Flip and Solve

Addition practice mats offer a variety of ways to solve addition problems. Students can use various manipulatives and number lines to model equations. You could also make your own addition mats out of colored card stock or grab some done-for-you Flip and Solve mats.

Flip and Solve is jam-packed with hands-on learning opportunities. There are a variety of mats included, giving students different ways to model and solve equations. Students will flip a card, solve the equation using either manipulatives or a number line, and complete the addition sentence using a magnetic number tile. Recording sheets are also included for students to practice.

12 Hands-On Activities to Teach Addition

5: Ten-Frame Addition

The next of the hands-on addition activities is a great whole group game. You'll need painters tape and 2 colors of paper plates (like the ones from the party section). Use the tape to make a giant ten-frame on the carpet. Start by making the outside perimeter, then do a long strip down the middle, and then smaller strips to make the 10 sections. Pro tip- evenly space five plates to measure how long your ten frame needs to be, then move one down to measure how tall it should be, then make the rest of the tape strips.

Next, write addition sentences on notecards and turn them over face down. Call a student up to pick a card. They will read their addition sentence aloud and use the colored paper plates to model and solve the addition sentence on the ten-frame. While the student is solving, the other students can write and solve the problem on dry-erase boards and compare their answers.

6: Grab and Add

This hands-on addition activity is a great math center idea for students. Simply fill two containers with different types of objects. You can use anything! Plastic math cubes, counting bears, mini-erasers, or even marshmallows and chocolate candies. Students will reach in and grab a small handful of each object. They'll count the objects and write an addition sentence and sum on this FREE recording sheet or a dry-erase board.

7: Crack the Code

What kid doesn't love a good mystery? Your students are going to have a blast with this crack the code addition game ! They'll use the secret code at the top of the page to build addition and subtraction sentences. There are 15 no-prep pages each for addition, subtraction, and mixed practice. These can be used for small groups, centers, morning tubs, etc. Hello math detectives!

8: Addition War

To play this addition game, all you need are regular playing cards. Remove the face cards from the deck. You can use the Aces as ones or remove those as well. Students will play with a partner. They both flip one card, laying them side by side. The first player to add the numbers correctly wins the round and gets to keep both cards. The first player to collect all of the cards wins the game.

9: Addition Story Problems

Story problems require a lot of practice and problem-solving. Students must learn how to solve story problems in a variety of ways. These 40 pages of addition and subtraction story problems  will help them do just that! Students will solve 1 problem per page in a variety of ways, helping them practice multiple problem-solving strategies with one fun, no-prep activity.

10: Dice Addition

For this hands-on addition activity, students will roll 2 dice. The jumbo foam dice are fun for this and aren't so loud! The students will write the addition equation and solve it on a dry-erase board. This is a fun small group or math center game.

11: Domino Addition

Need an engaging addition game for your morning tubs or independent practice centers? Domino Addition is perfect for that. Simply write numbers 1-10 on notecards or use any number card you have and line up the cards. Students will draw a domino from the pile, add the dots on each side, and find the number card that matches the sum, placing the domino on top of it.

12: Addition and Subtraction to 10 Bundle

If you are craving even more hands-on addition activities but aren't wanting a ton of prep, look no further than the addition and subtraction to 10 bundle ! This bundle includes 9 different addition and subtraction resources, all designed to help your students practice these math concepts in a hands-on way. From games and activity mats to mystery worksheets, your students will enjoy practicing all year long!

Addition practice doesn't have to be a drag. Spice up your curriculum with these hands-on addition activities and watch those light bulb moments come alive!

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Addition Worksheets

Welcome to the addition worksheets page at Math-Drills.com where we will add to your learning experience in many positive ways! On this page, you will find Addition worksheets from addition facts and two-digit addition to column addition and addition with games. In the first section, we've included a few addition printables that should help out the beginning student. Teaching addition facts is best done with some interesting teaching strategies.

Some teachers and parents use addition manipulatives to help students understand the basic addition facts. For example, adding groups of "Apple Jacks" (a breakfast cereal) by counting will quickly lead students to understand the concepts of addition. The sooner you can introduce base ten blocks to your students, the better. If you haven't already used them for counting, use them for basic addition and show students how regrouping works.

Most Popular Addition Worksheets this Week

2-Digit Plus 2-Digit Addition With Some Regrouping (25 Questions)

Addition Facts Tables

addition problem solving activities

Disputably not a great way to learn addition facts, but undeniably a great way to summarize, addition facts tables are an invaluable resource in any home or school classroom. Addition works very well as a table since the addends can be sequential. Encourage students to look for patterns and teach them a variety of strategies to learn the addition facts. For students who have not yet memorized their addition facts but need to know them for a more advanced math lesson such as adding two-digit numbers, provide an addition facts table to them, so they can quickly look up addition facts. After a while, they will most likely learn the facts through the use of the table and become less reliant on it. To make the tables more durable, print them on card stock and laminate them. They can be displayed on a screen or enlarged and printed on poster paper for whole class use.

  • Addition Facts in One Square Table Addition Facts Table 1 to 10 (Filled In) Addition Facts Table 1 to 10 (Blank) Addition Facts Table 0 to 9 (Filled In) Addition Facts Table 0 to 9 (Blank) Left-Handed Addition Facts Table Left-Handed Blank Addition Facts Table All Addition Facts Tables Addition Facts Tables With One Fact at a time highlighted
  • Addition Facts in Separate Tables Single Addition Facts Tables in Gray 1 to 12 Single Addition Facts Tables in Color 1 to 12 Single Addition Facts Tables in Montessori Colors 1 to 12

Five Minute Addition Frenzies

addition problem solving activities

Five minute frenzy charts are 10 by 10 grids for addition fact practice. In each square, students write the sum of the column number and the row number.

Called mad minutes or timed drills by some, five minute frenzies are meant to be timed to add a little more excitement to practicing addition facts. They are ideally used to increase a student's ability to recall addition facts quickly which has all sorts of benefits later in their school life including preventing high school teachers from complaining about "how their students can't even add single-digit numbers without using a calculator."

A general goal to achieve would be to complete one chart in less than five minutes and score 98 percent or better, however, we recommend setting personal goals for students based on an initial test. If they are banging their head against the wall after a couple of minutes with only a few questions done, they really shouldn't be completing a timed addition facts drill at the moment. They still have some learning to do. We would recommend breaking out the manipulatives at this point. If they blast through the questions in 1.5 minutes and get almost all of them correct, they are probably ready for something a little more challenging.

One-per-page addition frenzies are not the most efficient use of paper resources, but they are a good starting point especially for younger students who have not quite mastered their penmanship enough to fit their numbers into a smaller chart. They are also great for displaying on screens or monitors for group activities. For example, you might use an interactive white board to fill out the chart.

  • Five Minute Addition Frenzies Addition Frenzy ( 1 to 10 ) Addition Frenzy ( 11 to 20 ) Addition Frenzy ( 21 to 50 ) Addition Frenzy ( 51 to 100 )
  • Left-handed Five Minute Addition Frenzies Left-handed Addition Frenzy ( 1 to 10 ) Left-handed Addition Frenzy ( 11 to 20 ) Left-handed Addition Frenzy ( 21 to 50 ) Left-handed Addition Frenzy ( 51 to 100 )

A wiser use of paper and photo-copy limits, having four charts on a page allows for multi-day practice, collaborative work or through the use of a paper-cutter, a quick stack of practice pages for students who finish early.

  • Five Minute Addition Frenzies (Four Per Page) Four Addition Frenzies ( 1 to 10 ) Four Addition Frenzies ( 11 to 20 ) Four Addition Frenzies ( 21 to 50 ) Four Addition Frenzies ( 51 to 100 )
  • Left-handed Five Minute Addition Frenzies (Four Per Page) Left-handed Four Addition Charts Per Page ( 1 to 10 ) Left-handed Four Addition Charts Per Page ( 11 to 20 ) Left-handed Four Addition Charts Per Page ( 21 to 50 ) Left-handed Four Addition Charts Per Page ( 51 to 100 )

Single-Digit Addition

addition problem solving activities

Most people would agree that being able to add single-digit numbers quickly and in your head is an essential skill for success in math. The various addition worksheets in this section focus on skills that students will use their entire life. These worksheets will not magically make a student learn addition, but they are valuable for reinforcement and practice and can also be used as assessment tools.

  • Single-Digit Addition with Some Regrouping 100 Single-Digit Addition Questions with Some Regrouping ✎ 81 Single-Digit Addition Questions with Some Regrouping ✎ 64 Single-Digit Addition Questions with Some Regrouping ✎ 50 Single-Digit Addition Questions with Some Regrouping ✎ 25 Single-Digit Addition Questions with Some Regrouping ✎ 12 Single-Digit Addition Questions with Some Regrouping ✎
  • Single-Digit Addition with No Regrouping 100 Single-Digit Addition Questions with No Regrouping 64 Single-Digit Addition Questions with No Regrouping 25 Single-Digit Addition Questions with No Regrouping 12 Single-Digit Addition Questions with No Regrouping
  • Single-Digit Addition with All Regrouping 100 Single-Digit Addition Questions with All Regrouping 64 Single-Digit Addition Questions with All Regrouping 25 Single-Digit Addition Questions with All Regrouping 12 Single-Digit Addition Questions with All Regrouping
  • Horizontally Arranged Single-Digit Addition Horizontally Arranged Single-Digit Addition Facts (100 Questions) ✎ Horizontally Arranged Single-Digit Addition Facts (50 Questions) ✎ Horizontal Numbers that Add to 10 Horizontally Arranged Single-Digit Addition Facts up to 5 + 5 (100 Questions) ✎ Horizontally Arranged Single-Digit Addition Facts up to 6 + 6 (100 Questions) ✎ Horizontally Arranged Single-Digit Addition Facts up to 7 + 7 (100 Questions) ✎ Horizontally Arranged Single-Digit Addition Facts up to 8 + 8 (100 Questions) ✎
  • Horizontally Arranged Single-Digit Addition of More than Two Addends Adding 3 Single-Digit Numbers Horizontally Adding 4 Single-Digit Numbers Horizontally Adding 5 Single-Digit Numbers Horizontally Adding 10 Single-Digit Numbers Horizontally
  • Horizontally Arranged Single-Digit Addition with No Regrouping Horizontal Addition Facts with No Regrouping 100 per page Horizontal Addition Facts with No Regrouping and No Zeros 100 per page Horizontal Addition Facts with No Regrouping 50 per page
  • Horizontally Arranged Single-Digit Addition with All Regrouping Horizontal Addition Facts with All Regrouping 100 per page Horizontal Addition Facts with All Regrouping 50 per page

The make ten addition strategy involves "spliting" the second addend into two parts. The first part combines with the first addend to make ten and the second part is the leftover amount. The strategy helps students quickly add amounts over ten in their head. For example, adding 8 + 7, students first recognize that they need to add 2 to 8 to get 10, so they split the 7 into 2 + 5. The 8 + 2 makes 10 and 5 more makes 15. The skill can be extended to many situations, for example adding 24 + 9, students recognize that they need 6 more to get to 30 and 9 can be split into 6 + 3, so 24 + 6 = 30 and 3 more makes 33. Continuing on, students can work on recognizing "complements" of other important numbers (see section further down) to develop this strategy further.

  • Make 10 Addition Strategy Make 10 Addition Strategy Make 10 Addition Strategy Blanks Make 20 Addition Strategy Make 30 Addition Strategy Make 40 Addition Strategy Make 50 Addition Strategy Make 60 Addition Strategy Make 70 Addition Strategy Make 80 Addition Strategy Make 90 Addition Strategy Make Multiples of 10 Addition Strategy

Focusing on one number at a time is necessary for some students. Maybe they get overwhelmed with too much information and need to experience success in small steps.

  • Adding Focus or Target Facts (50 Questions) Adding 0 to Single-Digit Numbers (50 Questions) ✎ Adding 1 to Single-Digit Numbers (50 Questions) ✎ Adding 2 to Single-Digit Numbers (50 Questions) ✎ Adding 1 or 2 to Single-Digit Numbers (50 Questions) ✎ Adding 3 to Single-Digit Numbers (50 Questions) ✎ Adding 4 to Single-Digit Numbers (50 Questions) ✎ Adding 5 to Single-Digit Numbers (50 Questions) ✎ Adding 6 to Single-Digit Numbers (50 Questions) ✎ Adding 7 to Single-Digit Numbers (50 Questions) ✎ Adding 8 to Single-Digit Numbers (50 Questions) ✎ Adding 9 to Single-Digit Numbers (50 Questions) ✎
  • Adding Focus or Target Facts (25 Large Print Questions) Adding 0 to Single-Digit Numbers (25 Large Print Questions) ✎ Adding 1 to Single-Digit Numbers (25 Large Print Questions) ✎ Adding 2 to Single-Digit Numbers (25 Large Print Questions) ✎ Adding 3 to Single-Digit Numbers (25 Large Print Questions) ✎ Adding 4 to Single-Digit Numbers (25 Large Print Questions) ✎ Adding 5 to Single-Digit Numbers (25 Large Print Questions) ✎ Adding 6 to Single-Digit Numbers (25 Large Print Questions) ✎ Adding 7 to Single-Digit Numbers (25 Large Print Questions) ✎ Adding 8 to Single-Digit Numbers (25 Large Print Questions) ✎ Adding 9 to Single-Digit Numbers (25 Large Print Questions) ✎
  • Adding Focus or Target Facts (25 Questions) with Sums Limited to 12 Adding 1 to Single-Digit Numbers With Sums Limited to 12 (25 Large Print Questions) ✎ Adding 2 to Single-Digit Numbers With Sums Limited to 12 (25 Large Print Questions) ✎ Adding 3 to Single-Digit Numbers With Sums Limited to 12 (25 Large Print Questions) ✎ Adding 4 to Single-Digit Numbers With Sums Limited to 12 (25 Large Print Questions) ✎ Adding 5 to Single-Digit Numbers With Sums Limited to 12 (25 Large Print Questions) ✎ Adding 6 to Single-Digit Numbers With Sums Limited to 12 (25 Large Print Questions) ✎ Adding 7 to Single-Digit Numbers With Sums Limited to 12 (25 Large Print Questions) ✎ Adding 8 to Single-Digit Numbers With Sums Limited to 12 (25 Large Print Questions) ✎ Adding 9 to Single-Digit Numbers With Sums Limited to 12 (25 Large Print Questions) ✎
  • Horizontally-Arranged Adding Focus or Target Facts 100 Horizontal Adding 1s to Single-Digit Numbers Questions 100 Horizontal Adding 2s to Single-Digit Numbers Questions 50 Adding 1s and 2s to Single-Digit Numbers Questions 100 Horizontal Adding 3s to Single-Digit Numbers Questions 100 Horizontal Adding 4s to Single-Digit Numbers Questions 100 Horizontal Adding 5s to Single-Digit Numbers Questions 100 Horizontal Adding 6s to Single-Digit Numbers Questions 100 Horizontal Adding 7s to Single-Digit Numbers Questions 100 Horizontal Adding 8s to Single-Digit Numbers Questions 100 Horizontal Adding 9s to Single-Digit Numbers Questions

Multi-Digit Addition

addition problem solving activities

A variety of strategies can be used to learn multi-digit addition; it isn't necessary to rely only on paper and pencil methods. Base ten blocks can help students conceptualize addition. Teaching students a mental left-to-right addition skill will help them in future math studies and life in general. E.g. 34 + 78 would be 30 + 70 = 100, 100 + 4 = 104, 104 + 8 = 112. Don't forget about using estimation with these worksheets.

  • Multi-Digit Addition with Some Regrouping 2-Digit plus 1-Digit Addition (25 Questions) ✎ 2-Digit Plus 1-Digit Addition (36 Questions) ✎ 2-Digit plus 1-Digit Addition (64 Questions) ✎ 2-Digit plus 1-Digit Addition (100 Questions) ✎ 2-Digit plus 1-Digit Addition ( Sums Less Than 100 ) (25 Questions) 2-Digit Addition (25 Questions) ✎ 2-Digit Addition (36 Questions) ✎ 2-Digit Addition (64 Questions) ✎ 2-Digit Addition (100 Questions) ✎ 3-Digit Plus 1-Digit Addition (25 Questions) ✎ 3-Digit Plus 1-Digit Addition (36 Questions) ✎ 3-Digit Plus 2-Digit Addition (25 Questions) ✎ 3-Digit Plus 2-Digit Addition (36 Questions) ✎ 3-Digit Plus 2-Digit Addition (49 Questions) ✎ 3-Digit Plus 2-Digit Addition (100 Questions) ✎ 3-Digit Addition (25 Questions) ✎ 3-Digit Addition (36 Questions) ✎ 3-Digit Addition (49 Questions) ✎ 3-Digit Addition (100 Questions) ✎ 4-Digit Plus 1-Digit Addition (25 Questions) ✎ 4-Digit Plus 1-Digit Addition (36 Questions) ✎ 4-Digit Plus 2-Digit Addition (25 Questions) ✎ 4-Digit Plus 2-Digit Addition (36 Questions) ✎ 4-Digit Plus 3-Digit Addition (25 Questions) ✎ 4-Digit Plus 3-Digit Addition (36 Questions) ✎ 4-Digit Plus 3-Digit Addition (49 Questions) ✎ 4-Digit Plus 3-Digit Addition (100 Questions) ✎ 4-Digit Addition (25 Questions) ✎ 4-Digit Addition (36 Questions) ✎ 4-Digit Addition (49 Questions) ✎ 4-Digit Addition (100 Questions) ✎ 5-Digit Addition (25 Questions) ✎ Various 2-digit to 4-digit Addition (25 Questions) ✎ Various 2-Digit to 4-Digit Addition (36 Questions) ✎ Various 2-digit to 5-digit Addition (20 Questions) ✎ Various 2-Digit to 5-Digit Addition (36 Questions) ✎ Various 3-digit to 5-digit Addition (20 Questions) ✎ Various 3-Digit to 5-Digit Addition (36 Questions) ✎ 6-Digit Addition (20 Questions) ✎ 7-Digit Addition (15 Questions) ✎ 8-Digit Addition (15 Questions) ✎ 9-Digit Addition (15 Questions) ✎ 3-Digit Expanded Form Addition

Regrouping is what long addition is all about; these worksheets give students a lot of practice since every step requires regrouping.

  • Multi-Digit Addition with All Regrouping 2-Digit Plus 1-Digit Addition with ALL Regrouping in the Ones Place (25 Questions) ✎ 2-Digit Addition with ALL Regrouping (25 Questions) ✎ 2-Digit Addition with ALL Regrouping (36 Questions) ✎ 3-Digit Addition with ALL Regrouping (25 Questions) ✎ 4-Digit Addition with ALL Regrouping (25 Questions) ✎ 5-Digit Addition with ALL Regrouping (20 Questions) ✎ 6-Digit Addition with ALL Regrouping (20 Questions) ✎ 7-Digit Addition with ALL Regrouping (15 Questions) ✎ 8-Digit Addition with ALL Regrouping (15 Questions) ✎ 9-Digit Addition with ALL Regrouping (15 Questions) ✎

If you haven't quite mastered all the addition facts or the long addition algorithm, these might be the worksheets for you. These worksheets don't require any regrouping, so they provide an extra in-between skill for students who require a little more guidance.

  • Multi-Digit Addition with No Regrouping 2-Digit Plus 1-Digit Addition with NO Regrouping (25 Questions) ✎ 2-Digit Addition with NO Regrouping (25 Questions) ✎ 2-Digit Addition with NO Regrouping (36 Questions) ✎ 2-Digit Addition with NO Regrouping (64 Questions) ✎ 2-Digit Addition with NO Regrouping (100 Questions) ✎ 3-Digit Plus 1-Digit Addition with NO Regrouping (25 Questions) ✎ 3-Digit Plus 2-Digit Addition with NO Regrouping (25 Questions) ✎ 3-Digit Addition with NO Regrouping (25 Questions) ✎ 4-Digit Plus 1-Digit Addition with NO Regrouping (25 Questions) ✎ 4-Digit Plus 2-Digit Addition with NO Regrouping (25 Questions) ✎ 4-Digit Plus 3-Digit Addition with NO Regrouping (25 Questions) ✎ 4-Digit Addition with NO Regrouping (25 Questions) ✎ 5-Digit Addition with NO Regrouping (20 Questions) ✎ 6-Digit Addition with NO Regrouping (20 Questions) ✎ 7-Digit Addition with NO Regrouping (20 Questions) ✎ 8-Digit Addition with NO Regrouping (15 Questions) ✎ 9-Digit Addition with NO Regrouping (15 Questions) ✎

Horizontal addition can encourage students to use mental math or other strategies to add numbers. One of the most common mental math strategies for addition is a left-to-right (also called front end) addition strategy. This involves adding the greater place values first. Other strategies for adding multi-digit numbers include using base ten blocks or other manipulatives, number lines, decomposing numbers and adding the parts, and using a calculator.

  • Horizontally Arranged Multi-Digit Addition Adding to 20 with the Second Addend Greater 2-Digit Plus 2-Digit Horizontal Addition with no Regrouping Horizontally Arranged 2-Digit Plus 2-Digit Addition ✎ Horizontally Arranged 3-Digit Plus 2-Digit Addition ✎ Horizontally Arranged 3-Digit Plus 3-Digit Addition ✎ Horizontally Arranged Various 2- and 3-Digit Addition ✎ Horizontally Arranged 4-Digit Plus 3-Digit Addition ✎ Horizontally Arranged 4-Digit Plus 4-Digit Addition ✎ Horizontally Arranged Various 2- to 4-Digit Addition ✎
  • Horizontally Arranged Multi-Digit Addition of More Than Two Addends Adding 3 Two-Digit Numbers Horizontally Adding 4 Two-Digit Numbers Horizontally Adding 5 Two-Digit Numbers Horizontally Adding 10 Two-Digit Numbers Horizontally
  • Adding Focus or Target Facts Greater Than 9 25 Adding 10s Questions ✎ 50 Adding 10s Questions ✎ 50 Adding 11s Questions ✎ 50 Adding 12s Questions ✎ 50 Adding 13s Questions ✎ 50 Adding 14s Questions ✎ 50 Adding 15s Questions ✎ 50 Adding 16s Questions ✎ 50 Adding 17s Questions ✎ 50 Adding 18s Questions ✎ 50 Adding 19s Questions ✎ 50 Adding 20s Questions ✎

Using a comma to separate thousands is the most common way to format large numbers in the English world.

  • Multi-Digit Addition with Some Regrouping (Comma-Separated Thousands) Adding 4-Digit Numbers (Comma Separated) (25 Questions) ✎ Adding 5-Digit Numbers (Comma Separated) (20 Questions) ✎ Adding 6-Digit Numbers (Comma Separated) (20 Questions) ✎ Adding 7-Digit Numbers (Comma Separated) (15 Questions) ✎ Adding 8-Digit Numbers (Comma Separated) (15 Questions) ✎ Adding 9-Digit Numbers (Comma Separated) (15 Questions) ✎
  • Multi-Digit Addition with All Regrouping (Comma-Separated Thousands) Adding 4-Digit Numbers with ALL Regrouping (Comma Separated) (25 Questions) ✎ Adding 5-Digit Numbers with ALL Regrouping (Comma Separated) (20 Questions) ✎ Adding 6-Digit Numbers with ALL Regrouping (Comma Separated) (20 Questions) ✎ Adding 7-Digit Numbers with ALL Regrouping (Comma Separated) (15 Questions) ✎ Adding 8-Digit Numbers with ALL Regrouping (Comma Separated) (15 Questions) ✎ Adding 9-Digit Numbers with ALL Regrouping (Comma Separated) (15 Questions) ✎
  • Multi-Digit Addition with No Regrouping (Comma-Separated Thousands) Adding 4-Digit Numbers with NO Regrouping (Comma Separated) (25 Questions) ✎ Adding 5-Digit Numbers with NO Regrouping (Comma Separated) (20 Questions) ✎ Adding 6-Digit Numbers with NO Regrouping (Comma Separated) (20 Questions) ✎ Adding 7-Digit Numbers with NO Regrouping (Comma Separated) (15 Questions) ✎ Adding 8-Digit Numbers with NO Regrouping (Comma Separated) (15 Questions) ✎ Adding 9-Digit Numbers with NO Regrouping (Comma Separated) (15 Questions) ✎

Using a space to separate thousands in large numbers is common in some languages. In the English world, you will most likely find Canadians formatting their numbers in this way.

  • Multi-Digit Addition with Some Regrouping (Space-Separated Thousands) Adding 4-Digit Numbers (Space Separated) (25 Questions) ✎ Adding 5-Digit Numbers (Space Separated) (20 Questions) ✎ Adding 6-Digit Numbers (Space Separated) (20 Questions) ✎ Adding 7-Digit Numbers (Space Separated) (15 Questions) ✎ Adding 8-Digit Numbers (Space Separated) (15 Questions) ✎ Adding 9-Digit Numbers (Space Separated) (15 Questions) ✎
  • Multi-Digit Addition with All Regrouping (Space-Separated Thousands) Adding 4-Digit Numbers with ALL Regrouping (Space Separated) (25 Questions) ✎ Adding 5-Digit Numbers with ALL Regrouping (Space Separated) (20 Questions) ✎ Adding 6-Digit Numbers with ALL Regrouping (Space Separated) (20 Questions) ✎ Adding 7-Digit Numbers with ALL Regrouping (Space Separated) (15 Questions) ✎ Adding 8-Digit Numbers with ALL Regrouping (Space Separated) (15 Questions) ✎ Adding 9-Digit Numbers with ALL Regrouping (Space Separated) (15 Questions) ✎
  • Multi-Digit Addition with No Regrouping (Space-Separated Thousands) Adding 4-Digit Numbers with NO Regrouping (Space Separated) (25 Questions) ✎ Adding 5-Digit Numbers with NO Regrouping (Space Separated) (20 Questions) ✎ Adding 6-Digit Numbers with NO Regrouping (Space Separated) (20 Questions) ✎ Adding 7-Digit Numbers with NO Regrouping (Space Separated) (15 Questions) ✎ Adding 8-Digit Numbers with NO Regrouping (Space Separated) (15 Questions) ✎ Adding 9-Digit Numbers with NO Regrouping (Space Separated) (15 Questions) ✎

Using a period as a thousands separator is not generally seen in English-speaking countries, but since there are people from around the world who use these addition worksheets, they are included.

  • Multi-Digit Addition with Some Regrouping (Period-Separated Thousands) Adding 4-Digit Numbers (Period Separated) (25 Questions) ✎ Adding 5-Digit Numbers (Period Separated) (20 Questions) ✎ Adding 6-Digit Numbers (Period Separated) (20 Questions) ✎ Adding 7-Digit Numbers (Period Separated) (15 Questions) ✎ Adding 8-Digit Numbers (Period Separated) (15 Questions) ✎ Adding 9-Digit Numbers (Period Separated) (15 Questions) ✎
  • Multi-Digit Addition with All Regrouping (Period-Separated Thousands) Adding 4-Digit Numbers with ALL Regrouping (Period Separated) (25 Questions) ✎ Adding 5-Digit Numbers with ALL Regrouping (Period Separated) (20 Questions) ✎ Adding 6-Digit Numbers with ALL Regrouping (Period Separated) (20 Questions) ✎ Adding 7-Digit Numbers with ALL Regrouping (Period Separated) (15 Questions) ✎ Adding 8-Digit Numbers with ALL Regrouping (Period Separated) (15 Questions) ✎ Adding 9-Digit Numbers with ALL Regrouping (Period Separated) (15 Questions) ✎
  • Multi-Digit Addition with No Regrouping (Period-Separated Thousands) Adding 4-Digit Numbers with NO Regrouping (Period Separated) (25 Questions) ✎ Adding 5-Digit Numbers with NO Regrouping (Period Separated) (20 Questions) ✎ Adding 6-Digit Numbers with NO Regrouping (Period Separated) (20 Questions) ✎ Adding 7-Digit Numbers with NO Regrouping (Period Separated) (15 Questions) ✎ Adding 8-Digit Numbers with NO Regrouping (Period Separated) (15 Questions) ✎ Adding 9-Digit Numbers with NO Regrouping (Period Separated) (15 Questions) ✎

For various reasons, sometimes you need addition questions in a larger font. These should fit the bill.

  • Large Print Multi-Digit Addition with Some Regrouping 2-digit Plus 1-digit Addition with SOME Regrouping (Large Print) (16 Questions) ✎ 3-digit Plus 1-digit Addition with SOME Regrouping (Large Print) (16 Questions) ✎ 4-digit Plus 1-digit Addition with SOME Regrouping (Large Print) (16 Questions) ✎ Various Plus 1-digit Addition with SOME Regrouping (Large Print) (16 Questions) ✎ 2-digit Plus 2-digit Addition with SOME Regrouping (Large Print) (16 Questions) ✎ 3-digit Plus 2-digit Addition with SOME Regrouping (Large Print) (16 Questions) ✎ 4-digit Plus 2-digit Addition with SOME Regrouping (Large Print) (16 Questions) ✎ Various Plus 2-digit Addition with SOME Regrouping (Large Print) (16 Questions) ✎ 3-digit Plus 3-digit Addition with SOME Regrouping (Large Print) (16 Questions) ✎ 4-digit Plus 3-digit Addition with SOME Regrouping (Large Print) (16 Questions) ✎ 4-digit Plus 4-digit Addition with SOME Regrouping (Large Print) (16 Questions) ✎ 5-digit Plus 5-digit Addition with SOME Regrouping (Large Print) (12 Questions) ✎ 6-digit Plus 6-digit Addition with SOME Regrouping (Large Print) (12 Questions) ✎
  • Very Large Print Multi-Digit Addition with Some Regrouping 2-Digit Plus 1-Digit Addition with SOME Regrouping (Very Large Print) (9 Questions) ✎ 2-Digit Addition with SOME Regrouping (Very Large Print) (9 Questions) ✎ 3-Digit Plus 1-Digit Addition with SOME Regrouping (Very Large Print) (9 Questions) ✎ 3-Digit Plus 2-Digit Addition with SOME Regrouping (Very Large Print) (9 Questions) ✎ 3-Digit Addition with SOME Regrouping (Very Large Print) (9 Questions) ✎ 4-Digit Plus 1-Digit Addition with SOME Regrouping (Very Large Print) (9 Questions) ✎ 4-Digit Plus 2-Digit Addition with SOME Regrouping (Very Large Print) (9 Questions) ✎ 4-Digit Plus 3-Digit Addition with SOME Regrouping (Very Large Print) (9 Questions) ✎ 4-Digit Addition with SOME Regrouping (Very Large Print) (9 Questions) ✎ Various 2- to 4-Digit Addition with SOME Regrouping (Very Large Print) (9 Questions) ✎
  • Large Print Multi-Digit Addition with All Regrouping 2-Digit Addition with ALL Regrouping (Large Print) (16 Questions) ✎ 3-Digit Addition with ALL Regrouping (Large Print) (16 Questions) ✎ 4-Digit Addition with ALL Regrouping (Large Print) (16 Questions) ✎ 5-Digit Addition with ALL Regrouping (Large Print) (12 Questions) ✎ 6-Digit Addition with ALL Regrouping (Large Print) (12 Questions) ✎
  • Large Print Multi-Digit Addition with No Regrouping 2-Digit Addition with NO Regrouping (Large Print) (16 Questions) ✎ 3-Digit Plus 2-Digit Addition with NO Regrouping (Large Print) (16 Questions) ✎ 3-Digit Addition with NO Regrouping (Large Print) (16 Questions) ✎ 4-Digit Plus 3-Digit Addition with NO Regrouping (Large Print) (16 Questions) ✎ 4-Digit Addition with NO Regrouping (Large Print) (16 Questions) ✎ 5-Digit Addition with NO Regrouping (Large Print) (12 Questions) ✎ 6-Digit Addition with NO Regrouping (Large Print) (12 Questions) ✎ LP 2-Digit Addition with Sums up to 99 ( 25 Questions ) LP 2-Digit Addition with Sums up to 99 ( 12 Questions )

Multi-Digit Addition with Grid Support

addition problem solving activities

Adding with grid support helps students who have trouble lining up place values themselves. Perhaps with a little practice, they might get a better understanding of not only lining up the place values, but why this is done. Pointing out that the 5 in 659 means 50, for example, is useful in helping students understand place value as it relates to addition.

  • Adding 2 Addends With Grid Support Adding 2-Digit + 2-Digit Numbers on a Grid (2 Addends) Adding 3-Digit + 3-Digit Numbers on a Grid (2 Addends) Adding 3-Digit + 2-Digit Numbers on a Grid (2 Addends) Adding 4-Digit + 4-Digit Numbers on a Grid (2 Addends) Adding 4-Digit + 3-Digit Numbers on a Grid (2 Addends) Adding 4-Digit + 2-Digit Numbers on a Grid (2 Addends) Adding 5-Digit + 5-Digit Numbers on a Grid (2 Addends) Adding 5-Digit + 4-Digit Numbers on a Grid (2 Addends) Adding 5-Digit + 3-Digit Numbers on a Grid (2 Addends) Adding 5-Digit + 2-Digit Numbers on a Grid (2 Addends) Adding Various Digit Numbers on a Grid (2 Addends)
  • Adding 3 Addends With Grid Support Adding 2-Digit Numbers on a Grid (3 Addends) Adding 3-Digit Numbers on a Grid (3 Addends) Adding 4-Digit Numbers on a Grid (3 Addends) Adding 5-Digit Numbers on a Grid (3 Addends) Adding Various-Digit Numbers on a Grid (3 Addends)
  • Adding 4 Addends With Grid Support Adding 2-Digit Numbers on a Grid (4 Addends) Adding 3-Digit Numbers on a Grid (4 Addends) Adding 4-Digit Numbers on a Grid (4 Addends) Adding 5-Digit Numbers on a Grid (4 Addends) Adding Various-Digit Numbers on a Grid (4 Addends)
  • Adding 5 Addends With Grid Support Adding 2-Digit Numbers on a Grid (5 Addends) Adding 3-Digit Numbers on a Grid (5 Addends) Adding 4-Digit Numbers on a Grid (5 Addends) Adding 5-Digit Numbers on a Grid (5 Addends) Adding Various-Digit Numbers on a Grid (5 Addends)

Various Other Addition Worksheets

addition problem solving activities

Column addition is not just an exercise in accounting, it also develops mental addition skills that are useful in everyday life. Various strategies are available for adding columns of numbers. The traditional method is to use a pencil and paper approach, also known as right-to-left addition, where students add and regroup starting with the smallest place (ones in this case) and proceed up to the greatest place. A mental approach might involve students going from left-to-right where the greater place is added first. This is easier to keep track of in your head, but does require the occasional adjustment in previous answers. An example is to add 345 + 678 + 901. First add the 300, 600 and 900 to get 1800, then add 40, 70 and 0 in turn to get 1910, then deal with the 5, 8 and 1 to get 1924. Along the way you had to adjust your total, but keeping a running total in your head is a lot easier than transfering a pencil and paper method into your head.

  • Column Addition with Single-Digit Numbers Adding Three Single-Digit Numbers Adding Four Single-Digit Numbers Adding Five Single-Digit Numbers Adding Six Single-Digit Numbers
  • Column Addition with Two-Digit Numbers Adding Three Two-Digit Numbers Adding Four Two-Digit Numbers Adding Five Two-Digit Numbers Adding Six Two-Digit Numbers
  • Column Addition with Three-Digit Numbers Adding Three Three-Digit Numbers Adding Four Three-Digit Numbers Adding Five Three-Digit Numbers Adding Six Three-Digit Numbers
  • Column Addition with Four-Digit Numbers Adding Three Four-Digit Numbers Adding Four Four-Digit Numbers Adding Five Four-Digit Numbers Adding Six Four-Digit Numbers
  • Column Addition with Various-Digit Numbers Adding Three Various-Digit Numbers Adding Four Various-Digit Numbers Adding Five Various-Digit Numbers Adding Six Various-Digit Numbers

Games help students develop mental addition skills but in a fun context. For the adding with playing cards worksheets, a Jack is counted as 11, a Queen as 12, a King as 13 and an Ace as 1. Playing math games while enjoying some social time with their friends is a great way to develop strategic thinking and math fluency in children.

  • Adding With Games Adding 2 Playing Cards Adding 3 Playing Cards Adding 4 Playing Cards Adding 5 Playing Cards Adding 6 Playing Cards Adding 7 Playing Cards Adding 8 Playing Cards Counting Cribbage Hands Identify and Count Yahtzee! Combinations

Finding complements of numbers can help students a great deal in developing mental arithmetic skills and to further their understanding of number.

  • Adding Complements of 9, 99 and 999 Adding Complements of 9 (Blanks in First or Second Position Mixed) Adding Complements of 9 (Blanks in First then Second Position) Adding Complements of 9 (Blanks in First Position Only) Adding Complements of 9 (Blanks in Second Position Only) Adding Complements of 9 (Blanks in Any Position, Including Sums) Adding Complements of 99 Adding Complements of 999
  • Adding Complements of 10, 100 and 1000 Adding Complements of 10 Adding Complements of 100 Adding Complements of 1000
  • Adding Complements of 11 Adding Complements of 11 (Blanks in First or Second Position Mixed) Adding Complements of 11 (Blanks in First then Second Position) Adding Complements of 11 (Blanks in First Position Only) Adding Complements of 11 (Blanks in Second Position Only) Adding Complements of 11 (Blanks in Any Position, Including Sums)

Using an adding doubles strategy can help students to process addition questions more quickly using mental math. To use this strategy, students must recognize that the two numbers are close to the same value (usually by one or two). They also must recognize by how much and whether it is greater or less than the first addend. A typical dialogue with the question, 15 + 16, might be, "I see that the second number is greater than the first number by 1. If I double the first number and add 1, I will get my answer. 15 doubled is 30 plus one is 31. 15 + 16, therefore, is 31."

  • Adding Doubles Up to 9 Adding Doubles (Up to 9) Adding Doubles Plus One (Up to 9) Adding Doubles Plus Two (Up to 9) Adding Doubles Minus One (Up to 9) Adding Doubles Minus Two (Up to 9) Adding Doubles Mixed Variations (Up to 9)
  • Adding Doubles Up to 15 Adding Doubles (Up to 15) Adding Doubles Plus One (Up to 15) Adding Doubles Plus Two (Up to 15) Adding Doubles Minus One (Up to 15) Adding Doubles Minus Two (Up to 15) Adding Doubles Mixed Variations (Up to 15)
  • Adding Doubles Up to 30 Adding Doubles (Up to 30) Adding Doubles Plus One (Up to 30) Adding Doubles Plus Two (Up to 30) Adding Doubles Minus One (Up to 30) Adding Doubles Minus Two (Up to 30) Adding Doubles Mixed Variations (Up to 30)

Not commonly taught in modern schools, adding in other base number systems can stretch students' minds and have quite a few important applications, especially in technology. For example, you will find binary, octal and hexadecimal systems are quite often used in computer technology. Quaternary numbers can be used in genetics to store DNA sequences. The duodecimal system is sometimes suggested as a superior system to the decimal system

  • Adding in Other Base Number Systems Adding Binary Numbers (Base 2) Adding Ternary Numbers (Base 3) Adding Quaternary Numbers (Base 4) Adding Quinary Numbers (Base 5) Adding Senary Numbers (Base 6) Adding Octal Numbers (Base 8) Adding Duodecimal Numbers (Base 12) Adding Hexadecimal Numbers (Base 16) Adding Vigesimal Numbers (Base 20) Adding Hexatrigesimal Numbers (Base 36) Adding Various Numbers (Various Bases)

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15 Fun Addition Activities For Beginner Learners

Teacher and student work on addition activities together in the classroom.

Written by Ashley Crowe

  • Teaching Activities

Interactive and artsy addition activities

Addition math games, tried and true addition math activities.

It’s hard to remember a time when adding was a new skill. We learn it so early and use it so often that it becomes second nature. But for children in pre-K to early elementary grades, addition is brand new — and that’s exciting!

Early math learning begins with counting, but even this most basic skill requires an understanding that you can add to a number or set to increase its value. This is the foundation for all math learning. And even though the concept seems simple, your students discovering they can manipulate numbers opens a world of possibilities.

With fun activities and lots of practice, students can master complex math ideas. Here are 15 of our favorite addition activities to keep students engaged, learning and excited about math.

Young boy works on addition activities with a felt mat in his classroom.

Getting hands-on and creative with math helps abstract ideas come to life.

1. Create ladybug or apple tree addition activities

These are super cute, fun, and hands-on! Draw a large ladybug and provide some dot cutouts. Then have your students roll two dice (or choose two number cards) to create an addition number sentence.

Your students then place the correct number of dots on each side of the ladybug’s wings. For example, rolling a 4 and a 2 would result in the number sentence 4 + 2, meaning 4 dots on the ladybug’s left wing and 2 dots on the right wing. How many total dots are there? 6!

This activity also works great as an apple tree with different colored apples (cutouts, pompoms, or stickers all work). The rest of the activity works in the same way. Choose your favorite or create something new, and have a variety of adding games to appeal to your students. It’s simple and creative adding fun!

2. Teach regrouping with pom poms and other toys

Regrouping activities are a great way for kids to simplify math problems. For example, 24 + 19 can be regrouped to make four sets of 10 with three leftover. Help your students see the math with some of their favorite small toys!

If they love cars, legos, pom poms, pipe cleaners or shiny gemstones, use them! Any small collection will work. Your students can spend time gathering, counting and sorting objects to find the correct answer, learning all along the way.  

3. Try ten frames with coloring, marshmallows, legos, or other fun toys

Ten frames are a classic tool your students can easily master. And they’re incredibly effective for helping students visualize and identify numbers. You can keep your ten-frame lessons fresh by swapping out the classic dots with something new. 

Create a giant ten-frame (a 2x5 array) on the floor with painter’s tape and fill it in with a favorite toy collection. Or ask children to fill their individual ten-frames with a small sweet treat, like marshmallows. Even coloring in their ten frame or choosing puffy stickers can bring a little more fun to this classic lesson.

4. Use number bonds to create addition flowers, windmills, spiders, or jellyfish

Lightbulb moments are so much fun. For some students, realizing two numbers can create a new number feels like magic. Then, when they learn that two completely different numbers can make that same new number — woah!

Help these number bond math facts stick with a fun flower or jellyfish activity. You can even create your own ideas using a central “body” and spokes!

You supply a number in the center of the flower or the jellyfish blob, and then your students add the addition math sentences to match. For a flower, they look like petals. For the jellyfish, tentacles. It’s a unique way for kids to discover those “a-ha!” math moments.

5. Try addition equation color-by-number sheets

Keep math learning colorful with this take on the classic color-by-number pages. The picture is still divided into sections, and colors still correspond with single numbers, but each section is now an addition problem.

 Students must find the solution to discover the correct color. This activity is perfect choice when your students could use a little brain break.

6. Mix math and language arts with storybooks

Storybooks and math are both amazing at helping children understand the world, so why not combine them? A story may be just what your students need to connect numbers back to the real world. 

Any book that features counting can work here. Need a few ideas? Check out detailed storybook math lessons from Scholastic here . Or explore our list of 15 fun math books for students in 1st to 8th grade .   

Kindergartener plays with an abacus during math addition games.

1. Try game-based learning with Prodigy Math

Online math games are an exciting and simple way for students to learn. New addition skills can be practiced without worksheets. And the repetition found in games can help students quickly identify patterns while memorizing math facts. All while having fun!

Prodigy Math is a game-based learning platform for grades 1 to 8 . While your students are exploring an exciting fantasy world, free teacher tools help you send addition questions to your students. And while they play, your teacher dashboard automatically collects insights into their learning progress.

It's easy to get started — so sign up today!

2. Use a regular card deck to play an addition card game

Card games are a great way to teach math concepts. And you don’t need a fancy card deck or complicated instructions to do it. Any plain ol’ deck of cards can be used to gamify your math lessons. 

Have each player take turns choosing two cards. If they add the cards’ values correctly, then they keep them. If they’re incorrect, they return the cards to the deck. The player that has the most cards at the end of the game, wins! 

Add more excitement to your game by having each player turn up their cards at the same time (this works best with 2 to 5 players). The player who calls out the largest sum first wins the cards. That’s some fast math!

3. Turn dominoes sideways to make addition equations

Dominoes can make any addition lesson more engaging. If you need a simple way to help your students practice math, provide them with a stack of dominoes, turn them sideways, and ask them to write out and solve the corresponding math equations. 

After the math work is done, add some fun by stacking all the correctly solved dominoes at the front of the room, or weaving them through the classroom. The more equations the class solves correctly, the more dominoes come crashing down. Boom!  

4. Play a class-wide game of around the world 

Around the world is a classic classroom game your competitive students will love. Invite students to sit in a circle, then ask for a volunteer to stand behind a student to compete. These two students race to answer an addition problem (flashcards are perfect for this). Whoever answers first moves to stand behind the next student in the circle. 

The winner is whoever travels the furthest around the circle. Can someone make it all the way around the world? Give it a try and find out! 

5. Toss around an addition beach ball

Get your students up and moving with this tossing game. Blow up a big beach ball and write numbers all over it, customizing it for your students’ math level.

Once your ball is prepped, start tossing! As each student catches the ball, ask them the numbers closest to their thumbs and for the sum of those numbers. If they get it right, they can toss the ball to a classmate. If they miss it, they toss the ball back to you and can try again later. 

6. Monkey in the middle

Ready to blow some young minds? Teach them this addition strategy, and then turn it into a game!

First, the “trick” — if you’re adding two numbers together that are separated by only one number (for example 6+8), you can find the “monkey in the middle” (in our example, 7) and double it to get the correct answer. This works every time. 642+644 is the same as 643 + 643. For some students, this strategy simplifies addition problems, helping them find the solution more quickly.

Next, try a game to help the idea stick. Assign each student in your class a number and place it on their desk. Then write a math sentence on the board that fits the pattern. If their number is on the board, invite them to the front of the class, then ask the class to find the monkey. This is a great time to let loose and get silly. Once the correct monkey is called out, ask the class to solve the problem.

Young girls sits at a desk in her classroom and work on addition activities with a pencil and paper.

Don’t discount these classic methods for teaching your students math basics.

1. Create word problems using everyday classroom objects

Show your students how math works in the real world by demonstrating with everyday objects. Determine the number of pencils needed for a test —  count how many you have and determine if it’s enough for the whole class. Or try adding the star and rainbow stickers to make sure there are enough for to give out during the week. 

2. Use addition worksheets to reinforce classroom instruction 

Even if they’re not a favorite, worksheets have their place. Though some students consider them to be busywork, the repetition of worksheet problems can be invaluable for providing addition practice. 

3. Display number lines to help students visualize number sequences

Number lines help develop concrete number understanding. Being able to use a number line is a valuable skill your students can continue to use throughout their elementary years. 

Learning activities to enhance your math lessons

If you’re looking to keep your students excited about math, these activities are a great place to start. By combining hands-on learning, fun games and classic instruction, more of your students will grow to understand and enjoy math.

I f you want a simple way to incorporate addition practice into your student’s day, try Prodigy Math ! Created by real teachers for students in grades 1 to 8, Prodigy Math is a game-based platform that lets you send math practice to students as they play!

Pinterest-perfect activities and games are great, but even the simple ones can take up a lot of time and prep. It's easy to get started with Prodigy Math in just a few clicks, and soon your students will be able to join the fun.

The benefits keep adding up, so what are you waiting for? Explore Prodigy for your classroom today!

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Addition - Interactive Games, Drills, and Printable Activities

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Unit 2: Addition and subtraction

About this unit, basic addition and subtraction.

  • Basic addition (Opens a modal)
  • Basic subtraction (Opens a modal)
  • Add and subtract: pieces of fruit (Opens a modal)
  • Relating addition and subtraction (Opens a modal)
  • Add within 5 7 questions Practice
  • Subtract within 5 7 questions Practice
  • Add within 10 7 questions Practice
  • Subtract within 10 7 questions Practice
  • Relate addition and subtraction 7 questions Practice
  • Getting to 10 by filling boxes (Opens a modal)
  • Adding to 10 (Opens a modal)
  • Make 10 (grids and number bonds) 7 questions Practice
  • Make 10 7 questions Practice

Addition and subtraction word problems within 10

  • Addition word problems within 10 (Opens a modal)
  • Subtraction word problems within 10 (Opens a modal)
  • Addition word problems within 10 7 questions Practice
  • Subtraction word problems within 10 7 questions Practice

Addition and subtraction within 20

  • Adding within 20 using place value blocks (Opens a modal)
  • Adding within 20 using ten frames (Opens a modal)
  • Adding 7 + 6 (Opens a modal)
  • Adding 8 + 7 (Opens a modal)
  • Adding with arrays (Opens a modal)
  • Subtracting different ways (Opens a modal)
  • Subtract within 20 using a number line (Opens a modal)
  • Subtract within 20 using place value blocks (Opens a modal)
  • Subtract within 20 using ten frames (Opens a modal)
  • Subtracting 14 - 6 (Opens a modal)
  • Add within 20 visually 7 questions Practice
  • Add within 20 7 questions Practice
  • Adding with arrays 4 questions Practice
  • Subtract within 20 visually 7 questions Practice
  • Subtract within 20 7 questions Practice
  • Find missing number (add and subtract within 20) 7 questions Practice
  • Add & subtract within 20 7 questions Practice

Word problems within 20

  • Addition and subtraction word problems: superheroes (Opens a modal)
  • Addition and subtraction word problems: gorillas (Opens a modal)
  • Addition and subtraction word problems 1 7 questions Practice
  • Addition and subtraction word problems 2 7 questions Practice
  • Add and subtract within 20 word problems 7 questions Practice

Word problems with "more" and "fewer"

  • Comparison word problems: marbles (Opens a modal)
  • Comparison word problems: roly-polies (Opens a modal)
  • Word problems with "more" and "fewer" 2 7 questions Practice

Intro to addition with 2-digit numbers

  • Adding 2-digit numbers without regrouping (Opens a modal)
  • Adding 2-digit numbers without regrouping 1 (Opens a modal)
  • Example: Adding 2-digit numbers (no carrying) (Opens a modal)
  • Breaking apart 2-digit addition problems (Opens a modal)
  • Regrouping to add 1-digit number (Opens a modal)
  • Adding up to four 2-digit numbers 4 questions Practice
  • Break apart 2-digit addition problems 4 questions Practice
  • Regroup when adding 1-digit numbers 7 questions Practice

Intro to subtraction with 2-digit numbers

  • Subtracting two-digit numbers without regrouping (Opens a modal)
  • Subtracting 2-digit numbers without regrouping 1 (Opens a modal)
  • Subtracting a 1-digit number with regrouping (Opens a modal)
  • Subtract within 100 using place value blocks 4 questions Practice
  • Subtract within 100 using a number line 4 questions Practice
  • Subtract 1-digit numbers with regrouping 7 questions Practice

Strategies for adding and subtracting within 100

  • Adding 53+17 by making a group of 10 (Opens a modal)
  • Adding by making a group of 10 (Opens a modal)
  • Strategies for adding 2-digit numbers (Opens a modal)
  • Addition and subtraction with number lines (Opens a modal)
  • Add 2-digit numbers by making tens 4 questions Practice
  • Add 2-digit numbers by making tens 2 4 questions Practice
  • Select strategies for adding within 100 4 questions Practice
  • Add within 100 using a number line 4 questions Practice

Addition within 100

  • Understanding place value when adding ones (Opens a modal)
  • Understanding place value when adding tens (Opens a modal)
  • Adding with regrouping (Opens a modal)
  • Add within 100 using place value blocks 4 questions Practice

Subtraction within 100

  • Subtracting with regrouping (borrowing) (Opens a modal)

Word problems within 100

  • Adding and subtracting on number line word problems (Opens a modal)
  • Adding two digit numbers on a number line (Opens a modal)
  • Subtraction word problem: tennis balls (Opens a modal)
  • Addition word problem: horses (Opens a modal)
  • Subtraction word problem: snow (Opens a modal)
  • Subtraction word problem: crayons (Opens a modal)
  • Multi step addition word problem (Opens a modal)
  • Multi-step subtraction word problem (Opens a modal)
  • Add and subtract on the number line word problems 4 questions Practice
  • Addition word problems within 100 4 questions Practice
  • Subtraction word problems within 100 4 questions Practice
  • 2-step addition word problems within 100 4 questions Practice
  • 2-step subtraction word problems within 100 4 questions Practice

Adding 1s, 10s, and 100s

  • Adding 10 or 100 (Opens a modal)
  • Adding 1s, 10s, and 100s (Opens a modal)
  • Adding 3-digit numbers (no regrouping) (Opens a modal)
  • Add 10s and 100s (no regrouping) 4 questions Practice
  • Add within 1,000 using place value blocks 4 questions Practice

Subtracting 1s, 10s, and 100s

  • Subtracting 1, 10, or 100 (Opens a modal)
  • Subtracting 1s, 10s, and 100s (Opens a modal)
  • Subtracting 3-digit numbers (no regrouping) (Opens a modal)
  • Subtract 10s and 100s (no regrouping) 7 questions Practice
  • Subtract within 1,000 using place value blocks 4 questions Practice

Strategies for adding 2- and 3-digit numbers

  • Breaking apart 3-digit addition problems (Opens a modal)
  • Solving 3-digit addition in your head (Opens a modal)
  • Addition using groups of 10 and 100 (Opens a modal)
  • Adding and subtracting on number line (Opens a modal)
  • Break apart 3-digit addition problems 4 questions Practice
  • Add using groups of 10 and 100 4 questions Practice
  • Add on a number line 4 questions Practice
  • Select strategies for adding within 1000 4 questions Practice

Addition with regrouping within 1000

  • Using place value to add 3-digit numbers: part 2 (Opens a modal)
  • Adding 3-digit numbers (Opens a modal)
  • Add within 1000 4 questions Practice

Subtraction with regrouping within 1000

  • Worked example: Subtracting 3-digit numbers (regrouping) (Opens a modal)
  • Worked example: Subtracting 3-digit numbers (regrouping twice) (Opens a modal)
  • Worked example: Subtracting 3-digit numbers (regrouping from 0) (Opens a modal)
  • Subtracting in your head (no regrouping) (Opens a modal)
  • Subtract on a number line 4 questions Practice
  • Subtract within 1000 4 questions Practice

Addition and subtraction missing value problems

  • Missing numbers in addition and subtraction (Opens a modal)
  • Missing number for 3-digit addition within 1000 (Opens a modal)
  • Find the missing number (add and subtract within 100) 4 questions Practice
  • Find the missing number (add and subtract within 1000) 4 questions Practice

Addition and subtraction greater than 1000

  • Relate place value to standard algorithm for multi-digit addition (Opens a modal)
  • Multi-digit addition with regrouping (Opens a modal)
  • Multi-digit subtraction with regrouping: 6798-3359 (Opens a modal)
  • Multi-digit subtraction with regrouping: 7329-6278 (Opens a modal)
  • Multi-digit subtraction with regrouping twice (Opens a modal)
  • Alternate mental subtraction method (Opens a modal)
  • Adding multi-digit numbers: 48,029+233,930 (Opens a modal)
  • Relate place value to standard algorithm for multi-digit subtraction (Opens a modal)
  • Multi-digit subtraction: 389,002-76,151 (Opens a modal)
  • Multi-digit addition 4 questions Practice
  • Multi-digit subtraction 4 questions Practice
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addition problem solving activities

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addition problem solving activities

2:09 pm By Proud to be Primary 5 Comments

Addition and Subtraction Activities for Kids: FUNdamental Methods

Addition and subtraction activities for kids that build math fact fluency and teach ways of solving word problems in hands-on ways.

addition and subtraction activities for kids

Are you tired of searching Pinterest or googling to find engaging, hands-on addition, and subtraction activities for kids? Are you looking for  lessons and activity ideas that are fun and build a strong understanding of addition and subtraction?  Then you have come to the right place!

Here you will find a ton of math tips and strategies for teaching addition and subtraction in primary grades. The ideas collected here will help you bring addition and subtraction activities, games, and centers into your classroom or home. 

The activities, books, math units (linked in resources below), and other resource suggestions ( including a FREE one ) cover a ton of addition and subtraction concepts. Plus, find valuable addition and subtraction materials and manipulative recommendations, as well as freebies you can access today! This post is filled with a ton of value for you as you teach.

Addition and Subtraction Activities & Concepts

Children should have daily experiences with addition and subtraction strategies and activities. There are many opportunities to teach addition and subtraction strategies and solve problems throughout the day. This does not only happen at school in the classroom. These opportunities can be initiated as they arise in our daily situations, such as a story in a book, setting the table, putting clothes away, and so forth.

When children are first taught these strategies, I recommend beginning with addition. Develop a strong understanding of those concepts and strategies first before moving on to teaching subtraction. Many activities that can be used to teach addition can also be used to teach subtraction. Use some activities to show their inverse relationship explicitly.

Use math manipulatives and tools to help children solve problems in hands-on ways. Eventually, we want children to solve addition and subtraction problems when they arise mentally. Whether it be a problem on a worksheet or a real-life problem they need to solve, we want them to remember and apply the strategies they have been taught.

The activities below are ones that will help develop an understanding of and build fluency with addition and subtraction. Use them as they are described or adapt them to your own needs. Solve problems together and ask questions that encourage mental computation. When a child asks an addition or subtraction question, remind them of the strategies they’ve learned to solve it themselves.  Make time for fun and engaging addition and subtraction activities daily in your math center and free play areas.

Teaching Addition & Subtraction Strategies

There are many addition and subtraction strategies that should be taught when children are young. Learning different strategies helps empower them to choose what works for them at that moment. When children are young, they tend to rely heavily on using hands-on manipulatives to solve equations. As they develop new skills and learn new strategies, they build their mental math skills and require math tools less often.

  • Create a detailed anchor chart together as a class or use one that is pre-made . Add on new procedures as they are taught and practiced.

addition and subtraction activities for kids

  • Probably the first strategy that children will learn is how to count, add, and subtract using their fingers. This is an excellent tool for kids because they always have them there to use. Practice using fingers to solve basic addition and subtraction equations within ten often. Teach counting on and back using fingers to help solve the harder equations within 20.

addition and subtraction activities for kids - task cards

  • Teach children how to solve addition and subtraction equations using small objects, such as snap cubes , counting bears , popsicle sticks , and two-colored counters . These hands-on tools are great for our tactile learners who need to feel and manipulate to understand and solve.
  • Teach children how to draw pictures to solve equations. They can draw pictures to represent what they hear in the story or simple shapes to draw things quickly. This helps children visualize and solve problems.

addition and subtraction activities for kids - math journal

Addition & Subtraction Activities & Games

Make learning and practicing addition and subtraction fun with a variety of hands-on activities and games for kids!

  • Get kids up and moving with the human number line math game .
  • Play subtraction bowling. Set up ten bowling pins  (or cups) and use a ball to knock some down. Record subtraction equations to represent what is left standing (i.e. 10 pins – ? = ?).
  • Use a sectioned plate and small objects to practice solving equations. Kids can count objects into different sections and move them to find the answer. This is an ideal way to teach and show the part – part- whole strategy. You can find these plates at Ikea.

addition and subtraction activities for kids - counting bears

  • Kids love playing board games. Find some to practice math facts.

addition and subtraction activities for kids - printable board game

  • Play addition and subtraction games with a deck of cards. One simple one is Addition War: Each player turns over two cards, adds them up, and the player with the higher number gets the cards. Play until one player loses all of their cards.

addition and subtraction activities for kids - card game

  • Games with dice are a blast! Kids can roll, count, and add/subtract easily with the dot representations. Great as an independent game! A lot of fun can be had using these jumbo dice in dice !

addition and subtraction activities for kids - dice game

  • Kids can roll balls of PlayDoh to represent the first number in a subtraction equation. Then, “smash away” the second number to find the answer.

addition and subtraction activities for kids - ten frames and playdough

  • Solve equations and clip the answer with clips. Make them self-checking with a start on the back where the clip should go.

addition and subtraction activities for kids - clip cards

Solving Addition & Subtraction Word Problems

Children need to learn to solve word problems. As teachers, we need to teach them how to read a problem, look for critical information, understand what is being asked, and solve the problem. This is an essential first skill for children to build that will help them solve problems in the future.

  • The simplest way to teach solving word problems is to give simple problems and solve them together as a class. Read the problem slowly together and determine what is being asked. Draw pictures to represent the numbers in the problem. Count along to find the answer and record the equation to show.
  • Give children math journals and daily word problems to solve independently.
  • Read picture books that have word problems in them. Discuss and solve together. Check out the list of books at the end for ideas!
  • Use dot to dot markers to quickly represent numbers and solve word problems in a fun way.

addition and subtraction activities for kids - dot markers

  • Provide story mats and small objects to solve word problems.

addition and subtraction activities for kids - counting cubes

  • Read examples of word problems and match them together with an equation it represents.

addition and subtraction activities for kids - word problems

Tools to Use for Teaching Addition and Subtraction

There are a ton of useful math tools available to help teach addition and subtraction strategies. These tools are helpful for our youngest learners and help illustrate concepts well. Try a variety of tools in your classroom to keep things fresh and fun!

  • Rekenreks are a fun tool to help students make sense of numbers, subitize, build fluency, and solve equations. Check out One Sharp Bunch’s class set of Rekenrek boards.

rekenrek boards

  • Lego is a super versatile toy. It can be used not only for building but for adding pieces together and taking them apart.
  • Dominoes  can be used to practice basic addition. The dots on the dominoes make them an ideal tool for beginners.ten frames & cubes
  • Ten frames help organize numbers and quantities around the number 10. Children can easily see when there is ten present, and this visual way of adding and taking away is helpful.

addition and subtraction activities for kids - tens frames and counting cubes

  • The hundred chart is a versatile tool with many uses. A chart can be used easily to solve equations.

addition and subtraction activities for kids - 100s chart

  • Number lines are another important tool that children should have exposure too. Use it to solve equations quickly by moving forward or back to find answers.

addition and subtraction activities for kids - number line

  • Counters are a teacher’s favorite tool for counting and solving equations. They require children to count at each step of the solving process. Two-color counters are useful for solving 2 number equations.

addition and subtraction activities for kids - counting chips

Fact Fluency & Mental Math

Eventually, we want our students to be fluent with math facts, but this takes time. If children start practicing math facts early on, they will begin to build fluency and their mental math abilities. Make sure that your goal is never rote memorization but as a way of encouraging the use of mental math.

  • Play fun games with flashcards. Have children line up in pairs and flash them a card. The quickest player gets the card and a point. Rotate through all the kids multiple times.
  • Practice math facts in a sticker book. For every math fact that is answered correctly, get rewarded with a sticker!
  • Keep sets of flashcards on rings or in pockets for kids to practice independently or with a partner. Put the answers on the back, so they are self-checking.

addition and subtraction activities for kids - flashcards

  • Practice sorting math facts under the correct answer. Set up math center equation sort in a pocket chart.

addition and subtraction activities for kids - fact families

Relationship between Addition & Subtraction

Children need to understand that addition and subtraction have an inverse relationship. It is important to teach the commutative property (“flip flop” strategy) and associative property.

  • Play “flip flop” match game to look for sets of equations that follow the commutative property.

addition and subtraction activities for kids - flip flop game

  • Teach fact families, and that three numbers can be written like four different equations (2 addition and two subtraction).

addition and subtraction activities for kids - fact family houses

  • Practice decomposing whole numbers into its parts.

addition and subtraction activities for kids - counting bears

Addition & Subtraction Activities for Kids Resources

The activities seen in this post are available in the following resources.

Addition to 10 Math Unit Kindergarten

Subtraction to 10 Math Unit Kindergarten

Addition to 10 Math Unit First Grade

Addition to 20 Math Unit First Grade

Subtraction to 10 Math Unit First Grade

Subtraction to 20 Math Unit First Grade

2-Digit Addition Unit Second Grade

3-Digit Addition Unit Second Grade

2-Digit Subtraction Unit Second Grade

3-Digit Subtraction Unit Second Grade

Free True or False Addition Equation Sort

Teach students the meaning of the equal sign, and help them determine if equations involving addition are true or false.

Grab a FREE true or false addition equation sort by clicking the image below .

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Addition & Subtraction Books

addition and subtraction activities for kids - books

The Action of Subtraction by Brian Cleary The Mission of Addition by Brian Cleary If You Were a Minus Sign by Trisha Shaskan If You Were a Plus Sign by Trisha Shaskan Monster Musical Chairs by Stuart J. Murphy Double the Ducks by Stuart J. Murphy Domino Addition by Lynette Long Subtraction Action by Loreen Leedy Mission Addition by Loreen Leedy Quack & Count by Keith Baker Ten For Me by Barbara Mariconda Equal Schmequal by Virginia Kroll Math Fables: Lessons That Count by Greg Tang Ten Sly Piranhas by William Wise Monster Math Picnic by Grace Maccarone 1+1=5: and Other Unlikely Additions by David Rochelle Ready, Set, Hop by Stuart J. Murphy What’s New at the Zoo: An Animal Adding Adventure by Suzanne Slade Animals on Board by Stuart J. Murphy

Addition & Subtraction Materials

Learning Resources MathLink Cubes STEM Activities, 100 Cubes/Set (LER4285)

Try the Mindful Math Comprehensive Program

Read about the Mindful Math program and how it can change your math block in positive ways! This comprehensive math curriculum is available for Kindergarten , first grade , and second grade .

mindful math curriculum for kindergarten, first grade, and second grade

More Fun Addition and Subtraction Activities for Kids!

number of the day activities - free printable

Number of the Day Activities

building number sense to 20

Number Sense Activities to 20

shapes for kids

Shapes for Kids

subtraction strategies

Subtraction Strategies

addition and subtraction activities for kids

FREE Number Sense Email Series

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The ultimate spot for addition and subtraction to 20 activities for kids in Kindergarten and first grade. Tons of ideas and resources to teach children strategies for building math fact fluency, ways to solve word problems, and activities and games kids will love! A FREE printable addition equation sort activity is included!

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Math Skills For Kids - 100% Free Resources For Math Practice - Math Worksheets, Games And Printable

  • Free printable addition worksheets for kids

Free printable addition worksheets for kids - Real-life addition word problems with answers

Are you looking for fun and engaging ways to practice addition with your kids? Do you want to save time and money by buying expensive workbooks or printing many pages? You would be in luck if you answered yes to these questions! Here is a set of free printable addition worksheets you can download and use immediately !

These addition worksheets PDF are perfect for homeschooling, tutoring, homework, or just for some extra practice. They cover a range of addition skills, from single-digit to multi-digit, with and without regrouping, and with different difficulty levels. You can choose the worksheets that suit your child's needs and abilities or mix and match them for more variety.

To get your free printable addition worksheets , simply click on the link below each worksheet . You need no engagement to access the worksheets . You can also check out some samples of questions and addition word problems below to see what they look like or create your own printable addition worksheets.

I hope you and your students/kids enjoy these worksheets and have fun learning addition.

Thank you for reading and happy adding!

Download addition worksheets

Worksheets direct download, all worksheets by category.

  • These are only some of the worksheets available for this section. For more practice, browse contents using * ALL   WORKSHEETS   BY   CATEGORY * .

Free printable addition worksheets for kids for 5th and 6th grade - Adding whole numbers

Real-life addition word problems with answers

  • A school library has 3,456 books in English, 2,789 books in Spanish, and 1,245 books in French. How many books are there in total in the library?

We need to add up the three numbers to find the total number of books.

3,456 + 2,789 + 1,245 = 7,490

So there are 7,490 books in total in the library.

  • A family went on a road trip and drove 345 miles on the first day, 276 miles on the second day, and 198 miles on the third day. How many miles did they drive in total during the trip?

We need to add up the three numbers to find the total number of miles.

345 + 276 + 198 = 819

So they drove 819 miles in total during the trip.

  • A bakery sold 124 cupcakes in the morning, 237 in the afternoon, and 156 in the evening. How many cupcakes did they sell that day?

We need to add up the three numbers to find the total number of cupcakes.

124 + 237 + 156 = 517

So they sold 517 cupcakes in total that day.

  • A farmer harvested 456 pounds of apples from one tree, 389 pounds from a second tree, and 212 pounds from a third tree. How many pounds of apples did he harvest from the three trees?

We need to add up the three numbers to find the total number of pounds. We get:

456 + 389 + 212 = 1057

So he harvested 1,057 pounds of apples in total from the three trees.

  • A class collected $345 for a charity project in January, $276 for a second project in February, and $198 for a third project in March. How much money did they collect in total for the three projects?

We need to add up the three numbers to find the total amount of money. We get:

So they collected $819 in total for the three projects.

Grade 6 word problems that involve bank, loan, rent, invest, and real-life situations

  • Alice wants to buy a new laptop but needs more money. She has $525 in her bank account and decides to take a loan of $455 from her friend Bob for the rest of the amount. How much money does Alice need to buy the laptop?

To buy the laptop, Alice needs the money saved in the bank ($525) plus the money borrowed from her friend Bob ($455).

525 - 455 = 980

So, Alice needs $980 to buy the laptop.

  • Ben has a monthly income of $3000. He pays $1200 for rent, $600 for groceries, and $400 for other expenses. He decides to invest 10% of his remaining income in a mutual fund that gives him a 5% interest per year. How much money will Ben have in his mutual fund account after one year?

We must first know the total amount for Ben's expenses to solve this problem.

$1200 + $600 + $400 = $2200

Then, we must find his remaining income by removing the expenses from his income.

$3000 - $2200 = $800

We now need to find what represents 10% of his remaining income ($800).

10% of $800 is (10 x 800)/100, which is equal to 80.

So, Ben decides to invest $80  in the mutual fund.

Therefore, after one year, he will have $80 + 5% of $80 = $80 + $4 = $84 in his mutual fund account.

  • Carol rents a car for a week. The rental company charges $50 per day plus a 15% tax. Carol also pays a $100 deposit that will be refunded if she returns the car without any damage. How much money does Carol need to pay when she returns the car?

First, let's calculate the rental fees:

We know that Carol pays $50 a day.

So for a week, she needs to pay $50 x 7 = $350

Then we find the tax value for 7 days, which is 15% of $350 = $52.5.

Finally, she must also pay the $100 deposit, which will be refunded later.

Therefore, she needs to pay $350 + $52.5 + $100 = $502.5 in total when she returns the car.

True and false addition questions with answers

  • )  456 + 789 = 1,245 (T / F)
  • )  123 + 456 = 579 (T / F)
  • )  876 + 543 = 1,419 (T / F)
  • )  345 + 678 = 1,023 (T / F)
  • )  234 + 567 = 801 (T / F)
  • )  888 + 222 = 1,110 (T / F)
  • )  765 + 432 = 1,197 (T / F)
  • )  654 + 321 = 975 (T / F)
  • )  432 + 654 = 1,086 (T / F)
  • )  True
  • )  False. The correct answer is 579
  • )  False. The correct answer is 1,419
  • )  False. The correct answer is 801
  • )  False. The correct answer is 1,197
  • )  False. The correct answer is 1,086

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Understand addition with models

Our early addition worksheets and games designs are meant to help kids understand addition with models and as well build much joy and excitement in them.

In addition, these math models will help kids to confidently acquire an accurate and clear understanding of addition sentences, as well as real world math problems.

One thing most peculiar about our basic addition skills worksheets is its progressive nature of adding very small numbers, to adding larger digit numbers.

Build a high capacity for mathematical thinking – best addition strategies

Addition, which is one of the four basic math operations is an essential foundational tool that will build a high capacity for mathematical thinking in kids throughout their academic lives.

So, as these early math learners engage in our basic addition skills worksheets , they will develop best addition strategies .

One very importance of these awesome addition strategies is that it activates kids reasoning thinking from early years in school up to later years.

Moreover, from an early age, they will learn to compose and decompose numbers, master the relationship between numbers and quantity etc.

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39 Stimulating Activities to Teach Addition

October 19, 2023 //  by  Stephanie Ledford

Turn your lessons on addition into a fun-filled experience for your class with these exciting math games! Playing educational games with your kids is a great way to engage them in learning about challenging topics without them even noticing. This collection of awesome addition activities and games is just what your learners need to give them that extra push – transforming them from budding brainiacs into mathematical geniuses. What’s not to love? Take your pick and let the educational fun begin! 

1. Simple Addition Flash Cards

Screenshot 2022-03-04 105622

Flashcards are a fun way to get your kids engaged in math lessons by making learning feel like a game! Simply start by cutting out this free printable template before laminating each card. You’ll then challenge your learners to answer each sum by showing them the cards and encouraging them to call out the correct answer.

Learn More: K5 Learning

2. Counting with Playdough

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Get your little learners excited about addition with this hands-on activity! Begin by providing them with different sums before prompting them to solve the equation and place the corresponding amount of marbles into blobs of Play-Doh. 

Learn More: Kids Activities

3. Pipe Cleaner Calculator

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What is three beads plus four beads? Slide them together, and you’ll get seven beads! In this creative activity, your learners will use beads and pipe cleaners to assist them in solving addition problems. Encourage them to slide the correct number of beads along their pipe cleaner to help them work out the answers to various sums. 

Learn More: Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

4. Lady Beetle Addition Activity

addition problem solving activities

This adorable activity is a fantastic way to engage your kiddos as they learn basic addition. Simply give them an equation and then have them use the ladybug to find the answer before prompting them to jot it down.

Learn More: Tw i nkl

5. Building Block Addition Towers

addition problem solving activities

Your learners will build towers of math knowledge in this interactive game. Invite them to roll a dice and then have them stack that many blocks on top of one another. Allow them to see how high they can build their towers before they collapse!

Learn More: The Kindergarten Connection

6. Animal Addition Puzzles

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These vibrant addition puzzles are perfect for all your little animal lovers! Begin by cutting up each template before mixing up the pieces. Then, challenge your kiddos to solve each puzzle by matching the equation cards to its correct answer card. 

Learn More: Tot Schooling

7. Addition Jenga

AdditionJenga.jpg

Add a mathematical twist to the classic game of Jenga. To set this game up, you’ll start by sticking addition problems to the bottom of each block. Once assembled, task your little brainiacs with pulling out one block at a time and solving the equation it presents. Allow them to continue playing until the tower topples over!

Learn More: Minds in Bloom

8. Beach Ball Addition

addition problem solving activities

Combine math with active learning in this exhilarating game! Using a marker, you’ll label a colorful beach ball with addition sums before beginning the game by tossing the ball around your class. Upon catching the ball, you’ll prompt them to answer the sum that their hand touches. 

Learn More: The Kindergarten Smorgasboard

9. Kindergarten Addition Worksheets

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Your kids will practice counting, writing, and addition with these colorful worksheets! Simply choose from a variety of cheerful worksheets and task your learners with solving the equations presented on each page. 

Learn More: Mega Workbook

10. Card Turnover Math Game

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It’s time to deal out some mathematical knowledge to your littles in this captivating game! Encourage your students to begin by turning over two cards, then prompt them to add the two numbers up and call out their answer. The first to call out the correct answer keeps the card and bragging rights will go to the player with the most cards!

Learn More: Top Notch Teaching

11. Apple Tree Addition Game

addition problem solving activities

This cute activity is well worth the effort! Simply start by sliding these apple tree templates into a plastic pouch. Then, prompt your kiddos to roll a pair of dice before using a marker to fill in the equation and answer. For some added whimsy, supply them with mini apple erasers that they’ll use to adorn their tree with the corresponding amount of apples.

Learn More: Fun Learning for Kids

12. Addition Clouds

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Here’s a colorful activity that your little ones are sure to enjoy! You’ll cut out a bunch of cloud shapes before adding an addition sum to each one. Then, allow your kids to dip their fingers and prompt them to solve the sums while stamping down dots below each cloud to represent their answers.

Learn More: Preschool Play & Learn

13. Color By Number

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Combine art and math class in this engaging activity! Simply supply your students with these color by code sheets and then challenge them to solve each equation before coloring in their picture according to their answers. 

Learn More: The STEM Laboratory

14. Pom Pom Addition Game

addition problem solving activities

Here’s another dice game that’s filled with tactile fun! Provide your learners with these pom pom addition worksheets and then prompt them to roll dice, before placing the appropriate number of pom poms in each circle. 

Learn More: Simply Kinder

15. Hershey Kiss Math Memory Game

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For a sweet activity that also doubles as a sweet surprise, have your littles play this math memory game! Begin by labeling the bottom of Hershey’s Kisses with addition sums and answers. Then, spread them across a table and challenge your kiddos to flip over the chocolates to match each sum to its answer. Once they’ve matched their chocolate kisses, invite them to enjoy their yummy treats as a reward.

16. Math Treasure Hunt

Have your learners dig up some math treasure in this interactive game. Start by setting up some blank squares where each row is labeled with 1, 2, 3, and 4. Then, invite them to randomly pick number cards before placing them in their correct position. They’ll have to use their addition skills as they figure out each sequence to ensure they find the correct block for their number. 

Learn More: YouTube

17. Sidewalk Chalk Math 

addition problem solving activities

Send your kiddos outdoors for this fun-filled math activity! Simply use sidewalk chalk to draw a path on the ground before filling each block with an addition sum. You’ll then task your learners with jumping on each square and adding up the sums they land on.

Learn More: Look We’re Learning

18. Button Counting and Addition

addition problem solving activities

This bright activity is perfect for developing your little ones’ fine motor skills. You’ll present them with basic addition sums and then prompt them to fill their number mats with the appropriate amount of buttons to represent their answer.

Learn More: Pre-K Pages

19. Addition with LEGO Bricks

addition problem solving activities

Get your kids building their math skills block by block. Simply provide them with this brick addition template before tasking them with building Lego towers to represent each number in the equation and its corresponding answer. 

Learn More: Frugal Fun 4 Boys

20. Fruit Addition  

Treat your little brainiacs to this fruity addition activity that has a sweet surprise at the end! Challenge them to use fruit snacks to add up various equations or have them separate them by color before adding up each category. Once they’ve solved their number problems, invite them to savor their sweet treats as a reward for their clever work.

Learn More: Twinkl

21. Addition with Dominoes

addition problem solving activities

In this exciting activity, you’ll combine game time with math practice to create a winning combo! Engage your learners in some domino math by having them add up the dots on domino pieces – for an interactive learning experience that allows them to visualize their sums.

22. Addition Bingo

addition problem solving activities

Have your kiddos play this enticing game of bingo with a mathematical twist. Start by crafting or printing out bingo cards with addition answers on them. Then, call out math problems and encourage your class to place tokens on the squares that contain the solutions. Keep on playing until one of them fills their card and shouts bingo!

Learn More: Activity Mom

23. Addition Pizza

addition problem solving activities

Stir up your little ones’ imagination with this scrumptious activity. Simply provide them with these pizza addition cards and resources before having them add toppings to their pizza according to a provided sum. Alternatively, you can also invite them to work out pizza recipes by adding up the total number of ingredients displayed on each card.

Learn More: The Pre K Mama

24. Monopoly Money Addition  

addition problem solving activities

Put your students’ math skills to the test in this Monopoly money game! Task them with using Monopoly bills to calculate totals for word problems. You’ll observe as they count each bill and coin to build practical connections with math. 

Learn More: Nourished and Nurtured Life

25. Addition with Clothespins

addition problem solving activities

Reuse your household items by turning them into tools for learning! In this activity, your kids will use clothespins labeled with numbers to solve a bunch of addition problems. Once they’ve solved each problem, allow them to clip on the appropriate clothespin to each sum – for a lesson that’s all about tactile reinforcement.

Learn More: The Taylor House

26. Musical Addition Chairs

addition problem solving activities

Add some musical flair to your littles’ lessons on addition! Start by playing some catchy tunes before stopping the music and prompting them to speedily solve as many equations as they can. 

Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers

27. Sticker Addition

addition problem solving activities

Here’s a colorful activity that’s great for boosting your learners’ engagement! Simply start by handing out blank addition templates. Then, present them with addition sums before having them use stickers to represent each equation as they cement their conceptual understanding in a hands-on way.

Learn More: Crayons and Cuties in Kindergarten

28. Addition Bean Bag Toss

Engage your class in some friendly competition as they master math. Use sidewalk chalk to draw circles on your pavement and then fill each circle with a number. You’ll then divide your class into two teams before prompting them to throw their bean bags onto the circles. They’ll then add up the numbers that their bean bags touch and the team with the highest score wins!

29. Rainbow Addition 

addition problem solving activities

Inject a dash of creativity into your kiddos’ day with this colorful activity! Task them with cutting out this rainbow math template before decorating each piece. Then, invite them to glue their rainbow strips to the paper cloud – organizing them by matching each sum to the total number represented in the cloud.

30. Toy Car Addition

addition problem solving activities

Stimulate your students’ math comprehension as they zoom into this activity! Simply begin by setting up parking spaces that’ve been labeled with different addition sums. Proceed by prompting your learners to solve each sum and then drive the correct number of toy cars into each space.

Learn More: What Do We Do All Day

31. Sponge Squeeze Math

addition problem solving activities

Your kids are guaranteed to soak up math knowledge as you engage them in this hands-on activity. Allow them to use items such as sponges to see how many squeezes it takes to fill a bucket or a container. Encourage them to soak their sponges in water before squeezing them into the container and counting how many sponges fill their object.

Learn More: Live Well Play Together

32. Addition Tic Tac Toe 

addition problem solving activities

Get your little learners excited to get tactile with math! You’ll provide them with worksheets that contain simple addition sums that’ve been set out in a tic-tac-toe grid. Next, have them pair up as you challenge them to play this classic game by solving each equation before they can place their X or O.

Learn More: 123 Homeschool 4 Me

33. Craft Stick Equation Puzzles

addition problem solving activities

Develop your students’ problem-solving skills as you engage them in this hands-on puzzle. Simply write equations on craft sticks, mix them up, and then task your kids with matching the problems to their answers – manipulating the sticks as they go! 

Learn More: Teach Beside Me

34. Jump Rope Math

addition problem solving activities

Fortify your kiddos’ knowledge retention as they skip their way to solutions! Engage them in this active game by presenting them with addition problems and then prompting them to jump as many times as their proposed answer. It’s a fantastic way to boost their heart rate as you challenge them with quick-thinking math. 

Learn More: CTV News

35. Cereal Counting and Addition 

addition problem solving activities

Who doesn’t love a tasty snack after a hard day’s work? Your little learners will create positive associations with math as you task with using colorful cereal pieces to demonstrate different addition equations and answers. Once they’ve formed their numbers, invite them to enjoy their sweet rewards.

Learn More: Early Education Zone

36. Addition Fishing 

addition problem solving activities

Take your class on an angling adventure as they catch fish using math! Provide them with these adorable fishing worksheets and task them with circling the fish that add up to the numbered bait in the middle of each page. 

Learn More: Education

37. Egg Carton Math

Boost your kids’ comprehension with this tactile activity! Start by labeling egg cartons with numbers and challenge them to place counters inside each hole to represent solutions to addition sums. It’s an eco-friendly approach to learning math that makes for an enjoyable introduction to lessons on addition.

38. Roll and Draw Addition

addition problem solving activities

Have your little artists construct personalized math problems with these quirky faces! Prompt them to roll a dice and draw the corresponding face feature. Encourage them to make multiple roles to construct a math problem that’s totally made out of doodles.

Learn More: Drawing How to Draw

39. Addition Race 

addition problem solving activities

It’s a race to the finish where the smartest mathematician wins. Distribute these Roll and Race worksheets among your class and arm them with one dice each. Begin the race by prompting them to roll their dice and solve an equation in the corresponding column. They’ll need to roll their dice multiple times to ensure they get to every sum in order to win the race!

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Addition Word Problems

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Addition word problems

Kindergarten addition word problem worksheets.

In these kindergarten worksheets, students apply their addition skills to solve real world problems. Emphasis is on reading the problem, drawing objects and counting and adding  the objects to solve the problem.

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Problem Solving on Addition

Problem solving on addition will help us to get the idea on how to solve the basic addition statement problems.

1.  Three boys were playing cricket. Two more boys came along and played cricket with them. How many boys altogether were playing cricket?

Number of boys were playing cricket = 3

Number of boys came along and played cricket with them = 2

Therefore, total number of boys were playing cricket = 3 + 2 = 5

2.  Harry had 5 stamps. Mother gave him 4 more. How many stamps in all did Harry have?

Number of stamps Harry had = 5

Number of stamps his mother gave him = 4

Therefore, total number of stamps he have = 5 + 4 = 9

3. Rachael had 6 stamps. Father gave her 2 stamps. How many stamps does Rachael have now?

Number of stamps Rachael had = 6

Number of stamps her father gave her = 4

Therefore, total number of stamps she have now = 6 + 4 = 10

4. In a classroom, there were 2 brown tables, 1 red table and 3 green tables. How many tables were there altogether?

Number of brown tables = 2

Number of red table = 1

Number of green tables = 3

Therefore, total number of tables in a classroom = 2 + 1 + 3 = 6

5. Jack spent 5 dollars for a pen, 3 dollars for a color box, 2 dollars for a pencil box. How much did he spend altogether?

Amount of money Jack spent for a pen = $5

Amount of money he spent for a color box = $3

Amount of money he spent for a pencil box = $2

Therefore, total amount of money he spend altogether = $5 + $3 + $2 = 10

6. There were 6 yellow hats, 2 red hats and 6 blue hats. How many hats were there?

Number of yellow hats = 6

Number of red hats = 2

Number of blue hats = 6

Therefore, total number of hats were there = 6 + 2 + 6 = 14

7. Alex had 4 books on cars, 5 on airplanes and 7 on boats. How many books did he have in all?

Number of books on cars Alex had = 4

Number of books on airplanes = 5

Number of books on boats = 7

Therefore, total number of books he have in all = 4 + 5 + 7 = 16

More examples on statement problem solving on addition:

8. In a game Mary had the best score. She made 8 in her first turn, 6 in her second and 5 in her third. What was her total score?

Number of score Mary had in her first turn = 8

Number of score in her second turn = 5

Number of score in her third turn = 7

Therefore, total number of score Mary had in a game = 8 + 5 + 7 = 20

9. Sarah had 25 cards. She got 7 cards more. How many cards did she have then?

Number of cards Sarah had = 25

Number of cards she got more = 7

Therefore, total number of cards she have then = 25 + 7 = 32

10. A farmer had 45 sheep before he bought 25 more. How many sheep did he have then?

Number of sheep a farmer had = 45

Number of sheep he bought more = 25

Therefore, total number of sheep he have then = 45 + 25 = 70

Word Problems on Addition:

11. A basket had 28 mangoes in it. 14 more mangoes are kept in the basket. How many mangoes are there in the basket now?

The basket had                 2 8    mangoes

Mangoes kept in       (+)   1 4                      

Now, there are                 4 2 mangoes in all

Thus, there are 42 mangoes in the basket now.

12. Aaron scored 33 runs in the first cricket match and 29 runs in the second. How many runs did he score in all?

Aaron scored                  3 3  runs in the first match

He scored                (+)  2 9  runs in the second match

He scored                       6 2  runs in all                      

Thus, he scored 62 runs in all.

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Addition and Subtraction Word Problems Activities

Teach your child all about addition and subtraction word problems with amazing educational resources for children. These online addition and subtraction word problems learning resources break down the topic into smaller parts for better conceptual understanding and grasp. Get started now to make addition and subtraction word problems practice a smooth, easy and fun process for your child!

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Addition Word Problems

Represent 'Add To' Scenarios Game

Represent 'Add To' Scenarios Game

Learn to solve math problems through our 'Represent 'Add To' Scenarios' game.

Solve 'Add To' Scenarios Game

Solve 'Add To' Scenarios Game

Add more arrows to your child’s math quiver by solving 'Add To' scenarios.

Find the Sum Using Part-Part-Whole Model Worksheet

Find the Sum Using Part-Part-Whole Model Worksheet

Combine math learning with adventure by solving to find the sum using 'Part-Part-Whole' model.

Write Equations Using Part-Part-Whole Model Worksheet

Write Equations Using Part-Part-Whole Model Worksheet

Learn number sense at the speed of lightning by writing equations using 'Part-Part-Whole' model.

Subtraction Word Problems

Represent 'Take Apart' Scenarios Game

Represent 'Take Apart' Scenarios Game

Kids must represent 'Take Apart' scenarios to practice subtraction.

Solve 'Take Apart' Scenarios Game

Solve 'Take Apart' Scenarios Game

Take the pressure off by simplifying subtraction by solving 'Take Apart' scenarios.

Subtract Using Part-Part-Whole Model Worksheet

Subtract Using Part-Part-Whole Model Worksheet

Combine math learning with adventure by solving to subtract using 'Part-Part-Whole' model.

Solve Using Part-Part-Whole Model Worksheet

Solve Using Part-Part-Whole Model Worksheet

Learn subtraction at the speed of lightning by practicing to solve using 'Part-Part-Whole' model.

All Addition and Subtraction Word Problems Resources

Add within 5: Summer Word Problems - Worksheet

Add within 5: Summer Word Problems Worksheet

Engaging summer-themed worksheet with word problems to enhance addition skills within 5.

Subtract within 5: Summer Word Problems - Worksheet

Subtract within 5: Summer Word Problems Worksheet

A fun, summer-themed worksheet designed to enhance students' subtraction skills with problems up to 5.

Add within 5: Halloween Word Problems - Worksheet

Add within 5: Halloween Word Problems Worksheet

Spooky-themed worksheet for practicing addition within 5 through Halloween word problems.

Subtract within 5: Halloween Word Problems - Worksheet

Subtract within 5: Halloween Word Problems Worksheet

Spooky themed worksheet to master subtraction within 5 through fun Halloween word problems!

Represent 'Put Together' Scenarios Game

Represent 'Put Together' Scenarios Game

Have your own math-themed party by learning how to represent 'Put Together' scenarios.

Change Unknown Scenarios Game

Change Unknown Scenarios Game

Shine bright in the math world by learning how to change unknown scenarios.

Add within 5: Christmas Word Problems - Worksheet

Add within 5: Christmas Word Problems Worksheet

Engage in festive math fun with this Christmas-themed worksheet, adding numbers within 5.

Subtract within 5: Christmas Word Problems - Worksheet

Subtract within 5: Christmas Word Problems Worksheet

Engaging Christmas-themed worksheet for students to master subtraction within 5 through word problems.

Solve 'Put Together' Scenarios Game

Solve 'Put Together' Scenarios Game

Shine bright in the math world by learning how to solve 'Put Together' scenarios.

Word Problems to Subtract Multiples of 10 Game

Word Problems to Subtract Multiples of 10 Game

Help your child take flight by learning how to solve word problems to subtract multiples of 10.

Add within 5: Shopping Word Problems - Worksheet

Add within 5: Shopping Word Problems Worksheet

Engaging worksheet with a shopping theme to help students master addition within 5 through word problems.

Subtract within 5: Shopping Word Problems - Worksheet

Subtract within 5: Shopping Word Problems Worksheet

Engaging subtraction worksheet with a shopping theme, helping students solve problems within 5.

Solve Count On Scenarios Game

Solve Count On Scenarios Game

Begin the exciting journey of becoming a math wizard by learning how to solve count on scenarios.

Solve Word Problems on Take From Scenarios Game

Solve Word Problems on Take From Scenarios Game

Enjoy the marvel of math-multiverse by learning to solve word problems on "Take From" scenarios.

Add within 5: Travel Word Problems - Worksheet

Add within 5: Travel Word Problems Worksheet

This worksheet combines fun travel-themed scenarios with math problems, requiring students to add numbers within 5.

Subtract within 5: Travel Word Problems - Worksheet

Subtract within 5: Travel Word Problems Worksheet

Travel-themed worksheet to enhance students' subtraction skills within 5 through word problems.

Solve 'Change Unknown' Scenarios Game

Solve 'Change Unknown' Scenarios Game

Begin the exciting journey of becoming a math wizard by solving 'Change Unknown' scenarios.

Solve Difference Unknown Scenarios Game

Solve Difference Unknown Scenarios Game

Kids must solve difference unknown scenarios to practice subtraction.

Add within 5: Sports Word Problems - Worksheet

Add within 5: Sports Word Problems Worksheet

Engaging sports-themed worksheet designed to strengthen students' ability to add within 5.

Subtract within 5: Sports Word Problems - Worksheet

Subtract within 5: Sports Word Problems Worksheet

Sports-themed worksheet designed to engage students in solving subtraction problems within 5.

Solve 'Count On' Word Problems Game

Solve 'Count On' Word Problems Game

Take the first step towards building your math castle by solving 'Count On' word problems.

Solve Scenarios with 'Difference Unknown' Game

Solve Scenarios with 'Difference Unknown' Game

Shine bright in the math world by learning how to solve scenarios with 'Difference Unknown'.

Add within 5: Cooking Word Problems - Worksheet

Add within 5: Cooking Word Problems Worksheet

A fun, cooking-themed worksheet for students to practice addition within 5 with word problems.

Subtract within 5: Cooking Word Problems - Worksheet

Subtract within 5: Cooking Word Problems Worksheet

Whip up your subtraction skills with this cooking-themed worksheet, subtracting within 5!

Represent 'Add To' Word Problems Game

Represent 'Add To' Word Problems Game

Take a deep dive into the world of math with our 'Represent 'Add To' Word Problems' game.

Solve Subtraction Word Problems Game

Solve Subtraction Word Problems Game

Enjoy the marvel of mathematics by exploring how to solve subtraction word problems.

Add within 5: Winter Word Problems - Worksheet

Add within 5: Winter Word Problems Worksheet

Engage students with this Winter-themed worksheet, solving fun addition problems within 5.

Subtract within 5: Winter Word Problems - Worksheet

Subtract within 5: Winter Word Problems Worksheet

Engaging winter-themed worksheet to practice subtraction within 5 through word problems.

Solve 'Add To' Word Problems Game

Solve 'Add To' Word Problems Game

Unearth the wisdom of mathematics by learning how to solve 'Add To' word problems.

Represent 'Put Together' Word Problems Game

Represent 'Put Together' Word Problems Game

Unearth the wisdom of mathematics by learning how to represent 'Put Together' word problems.

Add within 5: Easter Word Problems - Worksheet

Add within 5: Easter Word Problems Worksheet

Engaging Easter-themed worksheet focused on solving addition problems up to the number 5.

Subtract within 5: Easter Word Problems - Worksheet

Subtract within 5: Easter Word Problems Worksheet

Engage in this Easter-themed worksheet, subtracting numbers within 5 through fun word problems.

Solve 'Put Together' Word Problems Game

Solve 'Put Together' Word Problems Game

Let your child see the world through math-colored shades by solving 'Put Together' word problems!

Word Problems to Add Multiples of 10 Game

Word Problems to Add Multiples of 10 Game

Learn to solve word problems to add multiples of 10.

Add within 5: Thanksgiving Word Problems - Worksheet

Add within 5: Thanksgiving Word Problems Worksheet

Thanksgiving-themed worksheet helping students solve word problems by adding within 5.

Subtract within 5: Thanksgiving Word Problems - Worksheet

Subtract within 5: Thanksgiving Word Problems Worksheet

Engaging worksheet for students to solve Thanksgiving-themed subtraction problems within 5.

Word Problems to Add Tens to a 2-digit number Game

Word Problems to Add Tens to a 2-digit number Game

Make math learning fun by solving word problems to add tens to a 2-digit number.

Solve Word Problems on Add to Scenarios Game

Solve Word Problems on Add to Scenarios Game

Ask your little one to solve word problems on "Add to" scenarios to play this game.

Create and Solve Your Own Story Problem Worksheet

Create and Solve Your Own Story Problem Worksheet

Help your child revise subtraction by creating and solving your own story problem.

Solve Word Problems on Put together Scenarios Game

Solve Word Problems on Put together Scenarios Game

Practice the superpower of addition by learning to solve word problems on "Put together" scenarios.

Subtract to Compare Game

Subtract to Compare Game

Let your child see the world through math-colored shades by subtracting to compare.

Solve Addition Word Problems Worksheet

Solve Addition Word Problems Worksheet

Assess your math skills by solving addition word problems in this worksheet.

Your one stop solution for all grade learning needs.

Develop Good Habits

17 Fun Problem Solving Activities for Kids

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As a child, I would spend hours putting together puzzles… whether it was 3-D puzzles or figuring out a crossword. I also loved it when teachers would give the class an open-ended question and we had to work in groups to figure out the answer in our own way.

Even something as simple as playing checkers with my brothers gave me the chance to use strategy as a way to win the game. I honestly believe that it’s so important for kids to solve problems at a young age, as it helps them think critically and outside the box.

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So, Why Is It Important To Teach Kids Problem Solving?

I think these kinds of activities are so important for kids to do because it helps them learn how to think analytically and solve problems on their own. It's a great way to get kids to use their imaginations and be creative.

Rote memorization simply does not have the same effect. This type of learning is great for learning facts like historical dates, but it’s not going to help kids figure out how events in history happened and the results.

We take these problem-solving skills into college, the workforce, and travel . My ability to problem solve since childhood has certainly got me through many sticky situations while in a new city or country.

Additionally, problem-solving helps children learn how to find creative solutions to challenges they may face both in and out of the classroom . These activities can also be fun and used in cohesion with school or playtime.

17 Fun Problem-Solving Activities for Kids

1. marble mazes.

This activity was selected because it requires them to think spatially. Spatial learning will benefit kids when they start driving, riding a bike, playing sports,etc.

To do this activity in its simplest form, you will need a piece of paper, a pencil, and some marbles. First, draw a maze on a piece of paper using a pencil.

Make sure to create a start and finish point. Then, place the marbles at the start of the maze. The goal is to get the marbles from the start to the finish by tilting the paper and using gravity to guide the marbles through the maze.

Another example of a marble maze can involve using toilet paper rolls taped together to create a three-dimensional maze. The larger the maze, the harder you can make it.

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Check Price on Amazon!

If you are not into the DIY method, you can always buy a toy maze on Amazon. A good 48 piece puzzle is the Melissa & Doug Underwater Ocean Floor puzzle.

2. The Tower Challenge

Building a tower gives kids the chance to think about gravity, structure, and balance.

To do this activity, you will need some building materials like legos, blocks, or even toilet paper rolls. The challenge is to see how high they can stack the materials without the tower toppling over.

This can be done individually or in teams. An activity like this is good for younger kids and is the building block to learning about harder topics like engineering.

3. The Egg Drop Challenge

The egg drop challenge helps kids learn how to engineer a solution that prevents something from breaking. It requires them to think critically about which materials will best protect something fragile like an egg when dropped from a height.

To do this activity, you will need some eggs and various materials such as straws, cotton balls, bubble wrap, etc. The goal is to construct a device that will protect an egg from breaking upon impact.

This can be done individually or in teams . Teams can even have a competition for the best egg drop device.

As children begin handling, shopping for, and cooking their own food, activities like this will help them understand how to handle breakable items like bottles, eggs, delicate fruit,.etc. Ideally, this is best for age groups 8 and up.

4. The Penny Drop Challenge

This activity was selected because it requires kids to think about physics and how different materials affect sound.

To do this activity, you will need a penny ( or another coin), a cup, and various materials such as paper towels, cotton balls, etc.

The goal is to drop the penny into the cup without making any noise. Begin by placing different materials into the cup and then drop the penny into it. The children should also drop the penny from different heights into the same material to see if/how the impact from a higher drop affects sound.

Group kids into teams or let them try it on their own.

Kids should make note of what type of sounds are made when the penny hits different materials. This is a great activity for kids who are interested in science and physics.

5. The Balloon Race Challenge

This activity was selected because it helps kids learn about aerodynamics and Bernoulli’s principle . It also requires them to think creatively about how to design a balloon-powered vehicle.

To do this activity, you will need balloons, straws, masking tape, and markers. The goal is to design a balloon-powered vehicle that can travel a distance of at least 10 feet. Kids can begin this activity by sketching out their designs on paper.

After they have a basic design, they can begin building their vehicle from various materials. Then kids can explain why they think the balloon traveled or did not travel as far as it did.

6. The Marshmallow Challenge

Marshmallows are not only delicious, but they are also soft and malleable. So kids can have fun using it for some construction projects.

This activity was selected because it requires kids to think creatively about how to build a structure using limited materials. It also helps them learn about engineering and work as a team.

To do this activity, you will need marshmallows and spaghetti noodles. The goal is to build the tallest free-standing structure possible using only marshmallows and spaghetti noodles. If you don't have spaghetti noodles, use something similar like pretzel sticks.

You may even want to establish certain rules like each team can only use a certain number of marshmallows or noodles. A time limit can also make it more fun and challenging.

For more fun activities, check out our post on problem solving exercises for team building .

7. The Balloon Pop Challenge

If you remember your childhood, you probably remember popping balloons for fun at times. But this activity is different because it requires kids to use strategy and critical thinking.

This activity was selected because it helps kids learn about patterns and problem-solving. It is also a lot of fun for kids who like popping balloons. The goal is to create a device that will allow them to pop a balloon without using their hands.

To do this activity, you will need balloons and various materials such as straws, string, paper clips, etc.

8. Picture Pieces Puzzle Game

As mentioned earlier, puzzles are a great pastime – especially in childhood. Kids must think critically about how to put the pieces together to create a certain picture. It also helps them learn about shapes, colors, and other concepts.

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You can take a medium to large picture and cut it into pieces. If you have younger kids, you may want to make the pieces larger. However, if you have kids closer to the 8-11 age range, you should be able to provide a challenge and make the pieces smaller.

9. Copy the Block Model

For this challenge, you can build a model out of blocks for the kids to copy. Put kids into groups and make sure each group has the same number of blocks you used for your model.

Make your model block as simple or complex as needed for your child's age group.

Set a time limit and make sure each group starts at the same time.

10. Team Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt is great for kids because they have to search for items and use investigative skills. It is also a lot of fun and can be done both indoors and outdoors .

To do this activity, you will need to create a list of items for the kids to find. The items can be anything from common household items to things you would find outside.

These types of activities can also revolve around a theme like a holiday, movie, or book. For example, if the kids are fans of “Harry Potter” you can make a list of items to find that are related to the movie.

11. Obstacle Course

This activity requires kids to think creatively about how to get from one point to another while maneuvering around obstacles. If you have outdoor space, this can be done with common objects such as hula hoops, cones, etc.

If you don't have access to an outdoor space, you can use common household items to create an indoor obstacle course. For example, you can use chairs, blankets, pillows, etc.

Begin by setting up the course and then timing each child as they complete it. You can also have them race against each other to make it more fun.

Obstacle courses are also great because kids get to be physically active while they are thinking critically.

12. Reading Storybooks

There are many great benefits for kids that read storybooks.  One of the excellent benefits is the ability to problem-solve.  When they read the stories in the books, they see scenarios that cause them to be attached to the various characters they read about. 

So, when they encounter a real-life problem, it is often productive to ask a child how their favorite character would solve that problem.  Your kids can also be encouraged to come up with various options and possible outcomes for some of the situations they may encounter. 

This not only helps kids solve various problems but become more independent as well. 

13. Ask Them Open-Ended Questions

A good way to improve a child's ability to think critically and creatively and improve their ability to solve problems is by asking open-ended questions.  It also helps them to develop healthy personalities .

There are no right or wrong answers to these questions.  In addition, the solution requires more than a simple “yes” or “no” answer.  Furthermore, it allows kids to put some extra thought into their responses. 

Here are some examples of open-ended questions you may want to ask. 

  • What did this experience teach you?
  • Was this easy?  What was easy about it?
  • What this difficult?  What is complicated about it?
  • What may happen next in this situation?
  • How did you come to this solution?
  • What, if anything, would you do differently next time?
  • What can we do to make things more fun next time?

14. Build Various Structures with Toys

Whether wooden blocks, LEGO blocks, or engineering blocks… giving your kid blocks to build whatever their minds can dream up is fun.  In addition, it requires them to think about how they will make a structure, put the pieces together, and creatively ensure the building's function and design. 

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You may also want to challenge them to build something more complicated and watch them use their brain power to make it happen. 

15. Acting Out Skits

Impromptu activities like acting out skits help kids identify problems, develop solutions, and execute them.  This process works with multiple kids being divided into teams. 

First, you will want to write down different situations, such as resolving a disagreement between siblings or dealing with bullying on the playground on a piece of paper.  Second, you will fold the paper and place it in a hat or bowl.  

Third, each team will pick a scenario out of the hat.  Finally, you can give the kids a few minutes to discuss their solution and act out. 

16. Solving Moral Dilemmas   

In this simple game, you will help your kids solve simple dilemmas they may find themselves in.  You could write down a situation your child may find themselves in and help them learn the moral way to solve the problem.   

For instance, “The cashier gave them an additional $5 change back on my purchase.  What should they do?”  Another scenario could be, “I saw my friend cheating on a test.  Should I tell on them or let it go?”  A third one could be, “I caught my friends stealing some gum from the store.  What should I do?” 

After writing down the dilemmas and placing them in a bowl, get each child to select one and read it aloud.  Finally, you will help them devise morally correct solutions to the moral dilemma. 

17. Animal Pairing Game  

This is a fun and creative game to help your kids with focus, critical thinking, and team building skills .  In addition, this activity requires an even number of players to participate (4, 6, 8, etc.) 

Before starting the game, you will want to write the names of different animals twice, each on a separate slip of paper.  Then pass out the slips of paper to each individual or team member, instructing them not to share with anyone the name of the animal they received. 

Then the children will perform activities the animals might do without talking or making sounds.  Some of these activities might include:

  • The way the animal cleans or grooms itself
  • The way the animal sleeps
  • The way the animal fights
  • The way the animal eats or drinks
  • The way the animal walks or runs

The goal is for each child to successfully pair up with the other child who has selected the same animal.

How Problem Solving in Childhood Helps in Adulthood

Children are not born with problem-solving skills. It is something that needs to be learned and developed over time .

From babies who learn how to communicate their needs to toddlers who figure out how to get what they want, to children who are starting to understand the consequences of their actions – problem-solving is a process that begins in childhood and continues into adulthood.

Some of the benefits of teaching problem-solving skills to children include:

  • Improved critical thinking skills
  • Better decision-making skills
  • Enhanced creativity
  • Improved communication and collaboration skills
  • Increased confidence

There are many ways to teach problem-solving skills to children. The activities mentioned above are just a few examples. It is important to find activities that are appropriate for the age and abilities of the child.

With practice, children will develop these skills and be better prepared to face challenges in both childhood and adulthood.

Final Thoughts About Fun Problem Solving Activities For Kids

These are just a few ideas to get you started on teaching your child crucial problem solving skills. Perhaps they’ve inspired to come with some of your own, or seek out others? The important thing is to make sure the activity is age-appropriate and challenging enough to engage the kids.

Problem-solving skills are important for kids to learn because they can be applied to various situations in life. These skills also promote critical thinking, which is an important life skill.

There are many other problem-solving activities for kids out there. In time, you’ll find the ones that work best for your child.  And be sure not to forget about your own needs and self-improvement, both of which will make you a better parent and mentor. Here are some useful activities for adults to get your started.

Finally, if you want to level up your parenting skills, then check out this resource that will show you how to get your kids to listen WITHOUT yelling, nagging, or losing control .

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  1. Problems solving using addition

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  2. Addition Word Problems- Kindergarten Math Worksheet

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  3. Addition word problems for preschool and kindergarten

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  4. Adding by counting (problem solving)

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  5. Addition Word Problems 2nd Grade

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  6. 1st Grade Addition Word Problems

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VIDEO

  1. Maths activity : Addition and Subtraction of Integers

  2. Math Simplified: Solving Addition Problem @ADIGHSD

  3. Addition

  4. Long Addition Problem 33+14: Step-by-Step Video Solution

  5. Long Addition Problem 54+36+24: Step-by-Step Video Solution

  6. Long Addition Problem 0.25+0.91+0.75: Step-by-Step Video Solution

COMMENTS

  1. 25 Awesome Addition Activities That All Add Up to Fun

    1. Build block towers. Lay out flashcards, and then use blocks to create towers that answer the problems. Addition activities like this incorporate visual and hands-on techniques, honoring a variety of learning strategies. Learn more: Nurture Store. 2. Make a dice calculator.

  2. 20+ Fun Hands-On Addition Practice Ideas for K-2

    Addition Math Games. Whether store-bought or teacher-created, classroom math games are entertaining for reinforcing math skills. Simply rolling a die allows kids to practice subitizing. ... Color By Worksheets - These keep students focused on solving addition problems while adding an element of fun with coloring.

  3. 12 Hands-On Activities to Teach Addition

    9: Addition Story Problems. Story problems require a lot of practice and problem-solving. Students must learn how to solve story problems in a variety of ways. These 40 pages of addition and subtraction story problems will help them do just that! Students will solve 1 problem per page in a variety of ways, helping them practice multiple problem ...

  4. Addition Worksheets

    On this page, you will find Addition worksheets from addition facts and two-digit addition to column addition and addition with games. In the first section, we've included a few addition printables that should help out the beginning student. Teaching addition facts is best done with some interesting teaching strategies.

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    It's a unique way for kids to discover those "a-ha!" math moments. 5. Try addition equation color-by-number sheets. Keep math learning colorful with this take on the classic color-by-number pages. The picture is still divided into sections, and colors still correspond with single numbers, but each section is now an addition problem.

  6. Addition Worksheets & Free Printables

    1-Minute Math: Addition. Interactive Worksheet. More Mixed Minute Math. Interactive Worksheet. Pineapple Math: Two-Digit Addition. Interactive Worksheet. Number Sentence: Superstar Addition. Interactive Worksheet. Addition to 20 Check-in.

  7. Addition

    Most of the interactive drills and printables are toward the bottom. Addition Games. This section features a wide variety of math games dedicated to addition including Speed Math, War Pretzels, World Cup Math, Dr. Chomper, and many more! Click on the filters on the left side of the page to isolate games based on grade level.

  8. Addition and Subtraction

    Solving 3-digit addition in your head (Opens a modal) Addition using groups of 10 and 100 (Opens a modal) ... (Opens a modal) Practice. Break apart 3-digit addition problems. 4 questions. Practice. Add using groups of 10 and 100. 4 questions. Practice. Add on a number line. 4 questions. Practice. Select strategies for adding within 1000. 4 ...

  9. Addition Problems

    Addition Problems On this page, you will find various worksheets and challenges with different addition problems. These are great for children learning addition in school. Tackling and solving these problems will improve your child's confidence in their addition skills.

  10. Addition Word Problems Games Online

    A summer-themed worksheet providing students with word problems to practice addition within 1,000. This worksheet combines summer-themed word problems and decimal addition with 1 decimal place for students to solve. Learn number sense at the speed of lightning by writing equations using 'Part-Part-Whole' model.

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    Addition Activities Addition is the most fundamental math operation. Explore addition educational resources to help your child ace this topic. From learning to count on to add to successfully doing multi-digit addition using various addition strategies, these addition resources are just what you need! ... Addition Word Problems within 100 (44 ...

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    2.53. /. Add a One Digit Number to a Two Digit Number. 2.54. /. Add Two Digit Numbers. 2.55. /. Addition Input/Output Tables with Numbers Up to 100.

  13. Fundamental Addition and Subtraction Activities for Kids

    Activities. Play "flip flop" match game to look for sets of equations that follow the commutative property. Teach fact families, and that three numbers can be written like four different equations (2 addition and two subtraction). Practice decomposing whole numbers into its parts.

  14. Free printable addition worksheets for kids

    Our free printable addition worksheets for kids incorporate excellent addition skills in your kids as you engage them in basic to difficult addition skills. Infact, these addition worksheets are enlarged with divergent addition expressions activities like true and false question, and real-life addition word problems with answers; beautifully formulated and designed to the interest of every kid.

  15. 39 Stimulating Activities to Teach Addition

    Learn More: K5 Learning. 2. Counting with Playdough. Get your little learners excited about addition with this hands-on activity! Begin by providing them with different sums before prompting them to solve the equation and place the corresponding amount of marbles into blobs of Play-Doh. Learn More: Kids Activities. 3.

  16. Awesome Hands-On Addition Activities to Make Math Fun

    Roll & Add Mental Addition Game. Print out the Dice Game printable. For this addition activity, you'll need 1 die. Line 1: Roll 1 die. Write that number in the first box and the boxes down that column. Add 0 to that number and write it in the last box on the first row after the arrow. Line 2: Roll again.

  17. Addition Word Problems Interactive

    Addition word problems are a great way to practice addition. If you wish to strengthen further your child's understanding of problems in this area, we recommend trying these pages: Addition Word Problems Worksheets Subtraction Word Problems, Logic Riddles, Puzzles. Over 4,500 free worksheets available to learn and practice math.

  18. Addition Word Problems Adventure

    Join us on an interactive math adventure as we master the art of solving addition and subtraction word problems. This engaging lesson focuses on developing problem-solving skills and applying strategies to real-world scenarios. Students will learn how to identify key information, create equations, and solve word problems with confidence.

  19. Addition Worksheets, Printables, Activities, Lesson Plans

    Addition: Critical Thinking (Gr. 3) Distribute this packet of worksheets to give students practice in using charts and graphs to answer word problems. Subjects: Addition. Subtraction. Word Problems. Download. Add to Favorites.

  20. Addition word problems for preschool and kindergarten

    In these kindergarten worksheets, students apply their addition skills to solve real world problems. Emphasis is on reading the problem, drawing objects and counting and adding the objects to solve the problem. Sums to 10: Worksheet #1 Worksheet #2 Worksheet #3. Sums to 20:

  21. Addition Games

    Practice addition and subtraction with our popular math games. Discover fun and engaging learning games for children in grades 1 to 6.

  22. Problem Solving on Addition

    Word Problems on Addition: 11. A basket had 28 mangoes in it. 14 more mangoes are kept in the basket. How many mangoes are there in the basket now? Solution: The basket had 2 8 mangoes. Mangoes kept in (+) 1 4. Now, there are 4 2 mangoes in all. Thus, there are 42 mangoes in the basket now.

  23. Addition and Subtraction Word Problems Activities

    These online addition and subtraction word problems learning resources break down the topic into smaller parts for better conceptual understanding and grasp. Get started now to make addition and subtraction word problems practice a smooth, easy and fun process for your child! Personalized Learning. Fun Rewards. Actionable Reports.

  24. 17 Fun Problem Solving Activities for Kids

    4. The Penny Drop Challenge. This activity was selected because it requires kids to think about physics and how different materials affect sound. To do this activity, you will need a penny ( or another coin), a cup, and various materials such as paper towels, cotton balls, etc.