This addition within 10 game helps kindergarten and first grade children learn their sums to 10 by playing: pop balloons, flip memory cards, race cars or sprint through true and false sentences. Questions add two numbers with a total of 10 or less, from 0 + 0 up to facts like 6 + 4 and 9 + 1, in random order. It is free, needs no sign-up, works on phones and tablets, and comes with a printable addition chart.
Addition within 10 game: see how it plays
Each of the four modes in this addition within 10 game asks only addition within 10 questions. The printable chart shows all the sums on one page, with make-10 ten frames, doubles and a short self-test, and the pictures show Balloon Pop, Memory Match and Answer Race on this page.
How the addition within 10 game works
- Balloon Pop: answers float up on balloons, and you pop the right one before it drifts off the top. The wrong balloons sit within 3 of the right answer, so children have to work out the sum and not just spot the odd one out.
- Memory Match: twelve face-down cards hide six sums and their six answers. Flip two at a time and match each sum to its answer in as few moves as you can.
- Answer Race: every right answer moves your car forward, and you race three computer cars to the finish flag. The first to 15 wins.
- True or False: sixty seconds on the clock. Decide whether each sentence, such as 4 + 3 = 8, is right or wrong. A streak of five or more scores double.
Math facts to 10: all the sums on one page
There are 66 addition facts when you count every pair of numbers with a total of 10 or less, including facts with 0. Because 3 + 5 is the same as 5 + 3, children only need to learn 36 different pairs. The table shows how many facts there are for each sum:
| Sum | Facts | Different pairs | The pairs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 + 0 |
| 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 + 1 |
| 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 + 2, 1 + 1 |
| 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 + 3, 1 + 2 |
| 4 | 5 | 3 | 0 + 4, 1 + 3, 2 + 2 |
| 5 | 6 | 3 | 0 + 5, 1 + 4, 2 + 3 |
| 6 | 7 | 4 | 0 + 6, 1 + 5, 2 + 4, 3 + 3 |
| 7 | 8 | 4 | 0 + 7, 1 + 6, 2 + 5, 3 + 4 |
| 8 | 9 | 5 | 0 + 8, 1 + 7, 2 + 6, 3 + 5, 4 + 4 |
| 9 | 10 | 5 | 0 + 9, 1 + 8, 2 + 7, 3 + 6, 4 + 5 |
| 10 | 11 | 6 | 0 + 10, 1 + 9, 2 + 8, 3 + 7, 4 + 6, 5 + 5 |
The sums near 10 have the most pairs, so they take the most practice, and they also come up most often in the addition within 10 game.
5 strategies to use with the addition within 10 game
- Count on: start at the bigger number and count up. For 7 + 2, say “seven, eight, nine”.
- Doubles: 1 + 1, 2 + 2, 3 + 3, 4 + 4 and 5 + 5 are the facts children learn fastest: 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10.
- Near doubles: 4 + 5 is one more than 4 + 4, so it is 9. 3 + 4 is one more than 3 + 3, so it is 7.
- Make 10: know the pairs that make 10: 1 + 9, 2 + 8, 3 + 7, 4 + 6 and 5 + 5. Our number bonds to 10 game practices them.
- Zero and one: adding 0 changes nothing, and adding 1 gives the next number.
Wikipedia’s number bond article explains the idea behind the make-10 pairs, and our guide to addition strategies for kids goes deeper.
Adding to 10 game: a teaching order that works
- Use real things first: counters, blocks or fingers. Children should see 4 and 3 join to make 7 before they see the numbers alone.
- Move to ten frames: color 4 dots in a ten frame, then 3 more in another color, to see how many are filled in and how many are empty.
- Learn the doubles and the make-10 pairs, because they are anchors for all the other facts.
- Play Memory Match, which is the calmest mode, until the facts are accurate.
- Add speed with Balloon Pop and Answer Race once children rarely make a mistake.
Addition games for kindergarten: how to use them in class
- Small groups: two or three children share a tablet and take turns with Memory Match, saying each sum aloud.
- Center time: set the game at a computer station and print the addition chart for children who finish early.
- Whole class: project Balloon Pop on the board and let the class call out the answers together.
- Home practice: ask for five minutes a day with the addition within 10 game, because short, frequent practice beats one long session.
Let beginners use fingers or a ten frame next to the screen. Speed comes later, and “how did you know?” is the best question to ask after a round.
First grade addition game: where within 10 fits at school
| Level | What children are expected to do |
|---|---|
| Kindergarten (US) | Add and subtract within 10 with objects, drawings and fingers, and fluently within 5 |
| Grade 1 (US) | Add and subtract within 20, and show fluency within 10 |
| Year 1 (England) | Use number bonds and related facts within 20 |
These expectations come from the Common Core grade 1 operations and algebraic thinking standards and the English national curriculum for mathematics. When these facts are easy, move on to the addition within 20 game.
A 10-minute plan for parents
- Minutes 1 to 3: build a few sums with toy blocks or buttons, for example 6 and 3, and say the sentence together.
- Minutes 4 to 7: play one round of Memory Match and talk about the strategy each time a pair is found.
- Minutes 8 to 10: finish with Balloon Pop for a little speed, and celebrate a new best score.
Repeat the plan on most days for two weeks and most children become noticeably faster at their sums to 10.
Addition within 10 game word problems
- Sam has 4 red cars and 5 blue cars. How many cars does he have? Answer: 9.
- There are 6 ducks in the pond and 3 more arrive. How many ducks are there now? Answer: 9.
- Mia picks 7 flowers and then 2 more. How many flowers has she picked? Answer: 9.
- A shelf has 8 books and Leo adds 2. How many books are on the shelf? Answer: 10.
Addition within 10 game: frequently asked questions
What grade is the addition within 10 game for?
Kindergarten children work on adding within 10, and grade 1 children aim to know these facts fluently.
How many addition facts are there within 10?
There are 66 facts if you count every order and every fact with 0, and 36 different pairs once you notice that 3 + 5 is the same as 5 + 3.
What is the easiest way to teach the adding to 10 game facts?
Start with objects and ten frames, then teach the doubles and the pairs that make 10. Most other facts can be built from those.
Does the addition within 10 game include adding 0?
Yes. Facts such as 0 + 7 and 5 + 0 are included, because they are part of fluency within 10.
Is the addition within 10 game free, and do kids need an account?
Yes, it is free, and no account is needed. Best scores are saved only in the browser on this device.
Does the addition within 10 game work on phones and tablets?
Yes. Every game is built for touch first and also works with a mouse on a computer.