When it comes to teaching math, one of the most important concepts is addition. Students need a strong foundation in addition to build upon as they move on to more complex math. A key part of addition is being able to add a one-digit number to a two-digit number without regrouping. To help your students master this skill, here are some fun and engaging activities to try in your classroom.
1. Ten-Frames: Ten-frames are a great tool for teaching addition. Start by drawing a ten-frame on the board or using a printable. Then, fill in the ten-frame with dots to represent a two-digit number. Next, ask a student to come to the board and add a one-digit number to the ten-frame. Have them count the dots to find the answer. Repeat with different students and numbers.
2. Roll and Add: This activity requires dice and a whiteboard or paper. Each student should have their own dice. Roll the dice to get a two-digit number and write it down. Then, roll a second dice to get a one-digit number to add. Write it down under the first number and then work out the problem. Repeat with different students and numbers.
3. Counting Blocks: For this activity, you will need counting blocks or unifix cubes. Start by laying out a two-digit number with the blocks. Then, have a student add a one-digit number to the pile. Count the blocks together to find the answer. Repeat with different students and numbers.
4. Number Bonds: Number bonds are another great tool for teaching addition. Write a two-digit number on the board and draw a number bond with two parts. Explain that the number bond shows how the number can be broken down into two smaller parts. Ask a student to fill in one part of the number bond with a one-digit number. Then, ask them to find the other part by counting up from the number they wrote. For example, if the number is 47 and they wrote 3, they would count up to 47 starting at 3 (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10…). The answer would be 50.
5. Addition Bingo: This activity requires bingo boards with blanks (instead of numbers) and number cards. Each student should have their own bingo board. Draw a number card from a pile and show it to the students. If a student has that number on their board, they can cover it up. To win, a student needs to get a row (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) covered.
By incorporating these activities into your math lessons, your students will have fun while learning important addition skills. Practice makes perfect, so don’t be afraid to repeat these activities until your students have mastered adding a one-digit number to a two-digit number without regrouping.
