Learning how to make 10 is such an important early math skill for kids! When students can easily see how to decompose the number 10, it greatly benefits their overall number sense. It is a foundational skill for place value, addition and subtraction, and mental math. So how can you help students master this skill in a fun way?
Friends Of 10 Rainbow
This ‘Friends of 10 Rainbow’ anchor chart is a staple in my classroom. Together, my students and I fill in the numbers on this chart as we explore the different combinations for the number 10. This chart makes a great visual for students to see the correlation between the number pairs. It is also a great tool for when they may be struggling. If they are trying to find the missing number in the number sentence, all they have to do is find that number on the chart, and follow that color of the rainbow to it’s number pair.
Ten Frame Pop Its
If there is one thing students today are obsessed with…it’s pop-its! So what better way to learn math than to bring in one of their favorite tools! I have found so many uses for these Ten frame pop its, but using them to practice decomposing 10 is one of my favorites. I pair them with a recording sheet and it makes the perfect math center activity!
Bowling Fun
I am all about getting kids up and moving! And surprisingly, bowling is an activity that many of my students have never actually done. So they are THRILLED when I bring out the plastic bowling set. And because bowling involves 10 pins…it makes the perfect activity to reinforce these number combinations.
Students take turns rolling the ball to knock down the pins. After one roll, they count how many pins were knocked over and how many pins were still standing. Then, they write these two numbers on their recording sheet to show that number pair. So easy and fun!
These are just a few of my favorite activities, but there are so many ways to practice this skill with your students! You can find even more in my ‘Make 10 Activities’ bundle!
If want to learn more about teaching other math skills, check out this blog post about teaching shapes!
