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Making 10: The Magic Number for Fast Math

Students use a ten frame to see how many more they need to make 10 — a powerful mental-math strategy that makes adding and subtracting quick and easy.

Grade 2Addition40 minutes1 class periodGradual ReleaseExplicit teaching4 StandardsCommon Core
Start the Lesson
Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Use a ten frame to show numbers.
  • ✓Find how many more make 10.
  • ✓Know all the pairs that make 10.
  • ✓Use “making 10” to add faster.
Essential Question

Ten is a special number in math. If you have 6, how many more make 10 — and how can knowing that help you add faster?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Model · Interactive Tool

Fill the Ten Frame

Project this and change how many you have. The empty boxes show how many more you need to make 10 — the pairs that make 10 are worth memorizing!

🔟 Fill the frame — how many more make 10?Try it
I have: 6

The Lesson · Gradual Release (I Do · We Do · You Do)

40 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Launch — The Magic of Ten

5 min

Why is 10 such a special number in math?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show ten fingers.
  • Ask why 10 is handy.
  • Set the goal: making 10.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Count to ten.
  • Wonder why it’s special.
  • Predict the idea.
2

I Do — Fill to Ten

10 min

Teacher models.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Fill a ten frame with some counters.
  • Ask how many more make 10.
  • List the pairs (6+4, 7+3…).

🎒 Student Actions

  • Watch the frame fill.
  • Find how many more.
  • Learn the pairs.
3

We Do — Make 10 Together

12 min

Class drives the tool.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Use Fill the Ten Frame.
  • Find the partner to 10 each time.
  • Chant the ten-pairs.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Find each partner.
  • Read the equation.
  • Say the pairs.
4

You Do — On Your Own

13 min

Students make 10.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Assign “___ + ? = 10” problems.
  • Use making 10 to add (8 + 5).
  • Practice the pairs.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Find partners to 10.
  • Add using make-10.
  • Practice the pairs.
5

Close — Close

5 min

Quick make-10.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Say a number; students give its partner.
  • Explain the strategy.
  • Hand out the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Give the partner to 10.
  • Explain the trick.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, including the Standards for Mathematical Practice.

CCSS
2.OA.2

Fluently add and subtract within 20 using mental strategies.

CCSS
2.OA.1

Use addition and subtraction within 100 to solve word problems.

CCSS
1.OA.6

Use strategies such as making ten to add and subtract.

SMP
MP.7

Look for and make use of the structure of ten.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Use real counters on a ten frame.
  • Sentence frame: “___ and ___ make 10.”
  • Show ten-pairs on fingers.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with numbers close to 10.
  • Use a physical ten frame.
  • Practice one pair at a time.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Use make-10 to add past 10 (8 + 6).
  • Find pairs that make 20.
  • Explain the make-10 strategy in words.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 📓Math notebooks
  • 💻Fill the Ten Frame
  • 🟦Counters + ten frames
  • ✋Fingers!
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

ten framea 2-by-5 grid that holds up to 10make tento reach a total of 10partnerthe number that pairs to make 10sumthe total when you addstrategya smart way to solveaddto join amountsmental mathmath done in your headtotalthe whole amount
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
You have 7. How many more make 10?
3 (because 7 + 3 = 10).
QUESTION 2
Name two numbers that make 10.
Any pair such as 6 and 4, 8 and 2, or 5 and 5.
QUESTION 3
How can making 10 help you add 9 + 4?
Take 1 from the 4 to make the 9 into 10, then add the leftover 3: 10 + 3 = 13.

Going deeper? Play Make-10 Go Fish.

Have students play a card game where they collect pairs that make 10. A printable Make-10 card set is in the Math library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Making 10 (Ten Frames)Flip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Making 10 (Ten Frames)Quiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Making 10 (Ten Frames)Print
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: add, make ten, mental math, partner, strategy, sum, ten frame, total
  1. the whole amount
  2. a 2-by-5 grid that holds up to 10
  3. to join amounts
  4. math done in your head
  5. the number that pairs to make 10
  6. a smart way to solve
  7. the total when you add
  8. to reach a total of 10

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. You have 7. How many more make 10?
  2. Name two numbers that make 10.
  3. How can making 10 help you add 9 + 4?
Answer key — Part A: 1) total · 2) ten frame · 3) add · 4) mental math · 5) partner · 6) strategy · 7) sum · 8) make ten
Part B: 1) 3 (because 7 + 3 = 10). 2) Any pair such as 6 and 4, 8 and 2, or 5 and 5. 3) Take 1 from the 4 to make the 9 into 10, then add the leftover 3: 10 + 3 = 13.