Make Ten to Add

Step 1: Let's Learn

Read it, or press Listen and follow the words.

Ten and something is the easiest kind of addition. 10 + 4 is 14, and you can hear it.

So make a ten first

For 8 + 5, ask what 8 needs to reach ten. It needs 2. Take that 2 from the 5.

That leaves 3. Now the problem is 10 + 3, which is 13.

Complete the bigger one

Fill whichever number is closer to ten. It needs less taken from the other.

Why we stop at ten on the way

Ten is the easiest number to add to. 10 + 4 is 14 and you can read the answer straight off the number. So instead of adding 8 + 5 in one go, we take a detour: build 8 up to 10 first, then add whatever is left over. The detour looks like extra work, but it swaps one hard step for two easy ones.

A worked case: 8 + 5

Step 1: 8 needs 2 more to become 10. Step 2: split the 5 into 2 and 3. Step 3: give the 2 to the 8, making 10. Step 4: the 3 is left, so 10 + 3 = 13. Nothing was added or lost along the way — the 5 was only broken into pieces and moved.

You need the number partners for this

Making ten only works quickly if you know instantly what each number needs to reach ten: 9 needs 1, 8 needs 2, 7 needs 3, 6 needs 4, 5 needs 5. These are the number partners of ten. If you have to count them up each time, the strategy is slow. Learn the five pairs and the strategy becomes fast.

Step 2: Try It Yourself

Make the move yourself, then read the chain underneath.

Move counters across to fill the first ten, then read what is left.

First ten

The rest

8 needs 2 more to make ten. Take 2 from the 5.

First number

Second number

Step 3: Watch an Example

One step at a time.

Watch Ana Make Ten

Ana is asked for 9 + 6.

Step 1
She sees the 9 is closest to ten, so she fills that one.

Step 4: Your Turn

Practice makes it stick.

Fruit Bowl

Problem 1 of 2

There are 9 apples and 7 oranges in a bowl. How many pieces of fruit are there?

pieces

Reading Time

Problem 2 of 2

Leo read 8 pages before lunch and 6 after. How many pages did he read?

pages

Make the Ten

Ask what the bigger number needs to reach ten.

1 of 4

9 + 4 = ?

2 of 4

8 + 7 = ?

3 of 4

7 + 6 = ?

4 of 4

5 + 9 = ?

Step 5: Quick Check

Show what you know.

Question 1 of 2

9 + 8 = ?

Question 2 of 2

In 7 + 8, which number is easier to fill to ten?

What You Learned

Ten and some more is the easiest sum to say.
Fill one number up to ten, then add what is left.
Fill whichever number is closer to ten.