Awesome Addition Activities and Strategies For Kindergarten

Here are some tips, resources, and strategies to teach addition in kindergarten and first grade. Students start learning how to add as soon as kindergarten. Teaching addition is a lot of fun because there are so many ways you can engage your students. 

What to teach?

The common core standards for addition in kindergarten focus on helping students develop a strong foundation in math, specifically in addition. Here are some essential skills:

• Understanding that addition is combining two or more quantities to find the total
• Using concrete objects or pictures to represent and solve addition problems
• Understanding and using the symbol “+” to represent addition
• Solving addition problems with numbers up to 10
• Using strategies such as counting on and making ten to solve addition problems
• Understanding that the order in which numbers are added does not change the sum

Overall, these standards aim to help students develop a strong foundation in math and the ability to solve addition problems with confidence and understanding.

Use manipulatives 

Manipulatives such as blocks, counters, or even small toys can help students visualize and understand addition concepts. Students can physically combine objects to see the total quantity. 

Use hands-on activities

Hands-on activities such as cutting out and gluing pictures or using play dough to mold and combine objects can be engaging and fun ways for students to practice addition.

Incorporate music and movement

Incorporating music and movement can make them more engaging and memorable for students. For example, students can march or dance as they count out objects to be added.

Use real-life examples

Help students see addition in their lives by using real-life examples, such as combining the number of cookies on two different plates or adding the number of apples in two different baskets.

Play addition games

Students can play many addition games to practice their skills, such as Flip and Add. In this activity, students flip two number cards and add.

Use visual aids

Visual aids such as number lines, number paths, or ten frames can be helpful for students as they learn addition. These aids can help students visualize the quantities and the process of combining them.

Need More Addition Activities?

Teaching addition is fun. Check out these kindergarten math centers and first-grade math centers. They have everything you need to implement effective and engaging math lessons in small groups or centers. 

Kindergarten Addition Math Centers

First Grade Addition Math Centers

What other strategies and tips to use to teach addition? Let me know in the comments section.

Happy Teaching,

Tee