This worksheet is designed to help students practice
addition using the
"make a ten" strategy, which is a common method in early math education for simplifying addition problems.
Each problem involves adding a number to 9 (or one problem with 6 + 5), and below each equation, there are two blank boxes under a triangle. This setup suggests that students should
break down the second addend into two parts: one part that, when added to 9, makes 10, and the remaining part.
Let’s solve each problem step by step:
---
🔹 Problem 1: 9 + 3 = ___
- To make 10 from 9, we need
1.
- So break 3 into
1 and 2.
- Then:
$ 9 + 1 = 10 $, and $ 10 + 2 = 12 $
- Answer:
12
✔ Fill in the boxes:
1 and
2
---
🔹 Problem 2: 9 + 4 = ___
- Break 4 into
1 and 3 (because 9 + 1 = 10)
- Then: $ 9 + 1 = 10 $, $ 10 + 3 = 13 $
- Answer:
13
✔ Boxes:
1 and
3
---
🔹 Problem 3: 9 + 5 = ___
- Break 5 into
1 and 4
- $ 9 + 1 = 10 $, $ 10 + 4 = 14 $
- Answer:
14
✔ Boxes:
1 and
4
---
🔹 Problem 4: 9 + 6 = ___
- Break 6 into
1 and 5
- $ 9 + 1 = 10 $, $ 10 + 5 = 15 $
- Answer:
15
✔ Boxes:
1 and
5
---
🔹 Problem 5: 9 + 7 = ___
- Break 7 into
1 and 6
- $ 9 + 1 = 10 $, $ 10 + 6 = 16 $
- Answer:
16
✔ Boxes:
1 and
6
---
🔹 Problem 6: 9 + 8 = ___
- Break 8 into
1 and 7
- $ 9 + 1 = 10 $, $ 10 + 7 = 17 $
- Answer:
17
✔ Boxes:
1 and
7
---
🔹 Problem 7: 9 + 9 = ___
- Break 9 into
1 and 8
- $ 9 + 1 = 10 $, $ 10 + 8 = 18 $
- Answer:
18
✔ Boxes:
1 and
8
---
🔹 Problem 8: 6 + 5 = ___
- This one is different — it's not involving 9.
- But still, we can use "make a ten" strategy.
- To make 10 from 6, we need
4.
- So break 5 into
4 and 1
- $ 6 + 4 = 10 $, $ 10 + 1 = 11 $
- Answer:
11
✔ Boxes:
4 and
1
---
✔ Final Answers:
| Problem | Sum | Box 1 | Box 2 |
|--------|-----|-------|-------|
| 9 + 3 | 12 | 1 | 2 |
| 9 + 4 | 13 | 1 | 3 |
| 9 + 5 | 14 | 1 | 4 |
| 9 + 6 | 15 | 1 | 5 |
| 9 + 7 | 16 | 1 | 6 |
| 9 + 8 | 17 | 1 | 7 |
| 9 + 9 | 18 | 1 | 8 |
| 6 + 5 | 11 | 4 | 1 |
---
🧠 Strategy Explanation:
The purpose of this exercise is to teach
mental math by using the
"make a ten" strategy. It helps students see that:
- Adding to 9 is easy if you think of it as "adding 1 to make 10, then adding the rest."
- This builds number sense and fluency.
For example:
> 9 + 7 → Think: 9 + 1 = 10, and 7 = 1 + 6 → So 10 + 6 = 16
This method works well for numbers close to 10 and is foundational for more complex arithmetic.
Let me know if you'd like a printable version or visual explanation!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of making ten to add worksheet.
