10 Ideas for Using Ten Frames to Build Number Sense in Kindergarten
Hands-on math practice in kindergarten is so important. Luckily, one of the most impactful tools for building number sense in kindergarten students is the ever-accessible ten frame! Whether you print ten-frame mats, make DIY ten-frame toolkits, use a ten-frame stamp, or use fancy, ready-made magnetic ten-frame paddles, giving young children plenty of practice with ten frames will help them grow into strong mathematical thinkers! Read on to find 10 simple ten frame activities that are easy to implement, require little planning, and are perfect for developing number sense.
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Benefits of Ten Frame Activities in Kindergarten
The simple ten frame activities in this post are designed to help students grow as mathematical thinkers by developing their number sense. A solid sense of “ten” is a prerequisite to understanding place value (without which higher-level math is impossible). When early childhood students begin to be able to visualize quantities in relation to ten, they are building number sense in ways that help them understand all the other numbers!
A ten frame, which is a 2X5 array of squares, is a tool that allows students to see numbers in groups of five and ten. In this way, students are able to quickly determine that four is one less than five, that seven is both two more than five and three less than ten, and that nine is made up of five and four. Using more than one ten frame serves as a stepping stone to other place value manipulatives (like base ten blocks) by allowing students to see and count groups of ten.
A ten frame is a simple tool with a significant impact on developing number sense in kindergarten!
Easy Ten Frame Ideas for Kindergarten
Use these simple ten frame activities as math warm-ups to get your students primed for problem-solving. These ideas are great for small group lessons or whole class brain activators.
1. Ten Frame Finger Match
Subitzing, a basic beginning math skill, connects with ten frames in this easy activity. Provide your students with ten frame mats and counters. Then, silently hold up some of your fingers and have your students quickly fill their ten frames with counters to match the number they see. As your students become accustomed to this task, you can add to the challenge by quickly flashing a number with your fingers and then giving a little wait time while they model that number on their ten frames. Incorporate verbal cues like “Ready, set…count” so they will know where to focus their attention.
If using a double ten frame, you can model teen numbers by flashing all ten fingers, followed by a smaller quantity. Occasionally, pause to give students opportunities to share what they are noticing. For example, they might notice that four and four on your fingers is the same as five and three on their ten frames. As you work with your class on all of these ten frame activities, encourage and reinforce students verbalizing their number thoughts.
2. Ten Frame Dot Matching
Here’s another easy way to integrate subitizing practice with ten frames. As in the previous activity, have students use ten frames and counters to model the quantities you show them on a dot card. You can use flashcards or images projected on a screen for this. (This set of ready-to-use flashcards includes both printable and digital dot cards.) As students become more experienced with this ten-frame game, shorten the amount of time that you display the dots (to encourage automaticity).
Again, take time throughout your practice to encourage students to describe what they are seeing and doing. Ask questions like, “How did you know that there were five dots?” or “What’s different about the dots on the card and the counters on your ten frame?”
3. Tally and Match
This activity does double duty as a ten-frame practice and a tally mark lesson. Tallying is a useful method for collecting and organizing data, but it can be tricky for children to remember the procedure of making four sticks and then using the fifth to bundle the set of five together. Tally marks and ten frames go hand in hand, as they both help use five as a benchmark.
For this activity, have students count out loud as you draw tally marks on a whiteboard before making their ten frames match with the same number of counters. This activity, like many of the others, can also be used as a partner game, with students taking turns being the tally mark maker and the ten-frame filler.
4. Ten Frame Numeral Match
Help students correspond numerals with quantities with this easy activity that also draws their attention to numerals in their classroom environment. Using your finger or a pointer, point to numerals around the classroom (on a number line, calendar, anchor chart, date, etc.) and have the students model that number on their ten frames with the correct number of counters. When working with a small group, you can use flashcards, a small number line, or even a counting book as the source of numerals.
5. Roll and Match
This simple ten-frame activity is great for independent practice but can also be a whole- or small-group warm-up. Using one or two six-sided dice, students (or the teacher) roll and then add counters to ten frames to match the number rolled. If students are using two dice and a single ten frame, encourage them to think about what happens to the one or two extra counters if they roll eleven or twelve. This is a good way to introduce the idea that teen numbers are made up of a group of ten and some extras. If you are using a double ten frame, students can roll three dice to get a wider variety of results.
6. Spin and Match
Similar to the previous idea, this ten-frame activity has students spin a number spinner and then add counters to a ten frame to match the number spun. Super Teacher Tools has a customizable online spinner you can use when playing this game with a group of students. If you’re using a numeral spinner, this activity helps students develop numeral-quantity correspondence. You can also make your own spinners with tally marks, dots, or other representations of numbers if your students need practice with other numeracy skills.
7. Counters in a Cup
This ten frame activity requires focus and listening skills in addition to counting. Here’s how you play: While students quietly listen, drop between one and ten heavy counters (coins work well) into an opaque container. I like to use a disposable plastic drink cup because those resonate nicely. As you drop the counters (slowly, one at a time), students count in their heads. They then add counters to their ten frames to match the number of coins in your cup. Finally, dump the cup out and lay your own counters on a ten frame so the students can check their work.
8. Clap and Count
Here’s another one that’s great for activating those listening skills! This simple ten frame activity requires students to count in their heads while you clap between 1 and ten (or twenty) times. Then, they add counters to their ten frames to show the claps they counted. You can add an extra level to this quick game by having a student come up to the board and tally as you clap (or have them tally privately on a sheet of paper) so students can check their counting against the record. Activities like this one are great for calming students during transitions because they are forced to be quiet while listening.
9. Number Stories
Ten frames are also a great tool for modeling simple number stories. Try reciting a very simple math story like, “I have two yellow apples and three green apples. How many apples do I have all together?” After students listen to the story, they can solve it with counters in their ten frames. Thinking about how numbers go together and come apart to make new numbers is an excellent precursor to formal addition and subtraction.
10. One More/One Less
Another way for students to begin to explore addition and subtraction concepts is with this “one more/one less” ten-frame activity. This game can be used as a variation on any of the previous ten frame activities. Simply have the students model the number in question and then have them show one more and one less than that number. For example, if you hold up seven fingers, the students would place seven counters on their ten frames. Then say, “Show me one more than seven.” After the students successfully show eight, ask them to show you one less than seven.
More Ten Frame Resources
Here are a few helpful resources that you can use to integrate ten frames into your kindergarten math routines.
Interactive Ten Frame Game
The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics has made some digital math games available for free use. This one includes a few different ten frame activities with read-aloud directions. These games are easy for students to play independently on a computer or tablet.
Printable Ten Frame Mats
These thematic ten frame mats, which are available on TPT and in the My Happy Place website shop, make it easy to incorporate your ten frame activities into your seasonal themes!
Thematic Ten Frame Mats
Build number sense year round with these engaging thematic ten frame mats!
DIY Ten Frame Toolkits
Head over to this post to learn how to repurpose inexpensive pocket folders into math toolkits for more ten frame practice!
Thanks so much for reading! I hope the ten frame activities in this post come in handy throughout your school year!
