Making 10 involves understanding how numbers can be decomposed and recomposed to form the benchmark number 10. At its core, it is about discovering the inherent flexibility of numbers and understanding their relationships. As children internalize the patterns and structures involved in creating 10, they begin to manipulate numbers in their minds and thus developmenting their mental math skills. Beyond its immediate applications, making 10 establishes the groundwork for algebraic thinking. Students begin to recognize the symmetry and balance inherent in numbers, a precursor to understanding equations and solving unknowns
Recommended Age 5+
Math Skills subitizing, counting, ten frame
Things Needed Ten Frame cards of various numbers/colors (printable at the bottom of this page)
Game Play
Step 1. Dots to Dots
Visualization of concrete representations
- How it looks: (in our pilot program, we also add velcro dots to each cards so a pair can stay together)
- Print and make the Ten Frame dotted cards–one set of black dots and one set of red dots. If you have transparency film, one set will be printed on transparency film.
- Explain what a ten frame is–a rectangular frame with 10 squres, 5 on the top row and 5 on the bottom row.
- Explain and demonstrate the goal of this game–for each black dots card, find the matching red dots card that fill up all 10 squares.
- Together with the child, find the matching cards.
- In the process, ask the child how many dots are on a black dotted card. It’s ok to count the dots, but try to guide the child to figure out the number without counting eventually. For example, when the top row is filled and there is one dot in the bottom row, than the number is one more than five–six.
- If your red dotted cards are printed on transparency, the two cards can be stacked and show that all ten squares are filled.
- Find all the matching sets. Play the step 1 two to three times (across several days/weeks), or until the child is quick at identifying the matching cards.
Step 2. Dots to Numbers
Transition from concrete to abstract representations
- How it looks: (we use floor mats version of ten frame in our pilot program so the numbers are big and easy for everyone to see)
- Print and make two sets of cards–one set of 1-10 number cards and one set of black dots, if you haven’t already made the black dots cards in step 1.
- Remind your child of what you did in step 1. And explain that you are going to make this game trickier by swapping one set of cards to number cards. Your goal is still to find the matching set that make 10, between a dotted card and a number card.
- Together with the child, find the matching cards. Start with a dotted card, and find the matching number card.
- In the process, ask the child how many dots are on a black dotted card and how many more are needed to make 10. If they are not sure, ask them to picture the ten frame and dots in their head.
- Find all the matching sets. Play the step 2 two to three times (across several days/weeks), or until the child is quick at identifying the matching cards.
- You can try motivating your child to be fast by making it a race or a timed game.
Step 3. Numbers to Numbers
Achieving fluency with mental math strategies
- How it looks:
- Print and make the 1-10 Number cards–you will need two sets of them.
- Remind your child of what you did in step 1 and 2. And explain that you are going to make this game super tricky by using only number cards. Your goal is still to find the matching set that make 10, between two number cards.
- Encourage your child to find the matching set on their own. If they seem confused, ask them to picture the ten frame and dots in their head.
- You can try motivating your child to be fast by making it a race or a timed game.
- Play the step 3 two to three times (across several days/weeks), or until the child is quick at identifying the matching cards.
Variations
After helping your child to understand how to find a matching pair that make 10, you can make the game more fun by turning the game into:
A timed game. Encourage your child to beat his/her previous record time. This will encourage them to be fast–the more familiar they are with the ten frame patters, the faster they can be.
A fly swatter game–between you and your child (or among multiple children). Stack all the cards from one set and put the stack on the table facing down, lay all the cards from the second set facing up on the floor/table, you and your child each hold a fly swatter. After flipping and reviewing one card from the first set, you and your child compete to swat the matching card on the floor. This will really motivate our child to think fast.
A team collaberation game. If you have a multiple children or are working with a group, you can have them all working on finding matching sets, and time it to see how long it takes the whole team to finish finding all the matching sets. And encourage them to do it again and beat their previous recorded time.
We did that in our pilot program and it was lots of fun.
Printable Game Materials
