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Math charts · kindergarten and 1st grade

Free printable

A ten frame is a box of 2 rows and 5 squares. Children fill it with counters and see numbers at a glance: 7 is one full row and 2 more, and 3 more makes 10. It is one of the best tools for number sense in kindergarten.

3 versions below · color or ink saver · CCSS K.CC.B.5, K.OA.A.4, 1.OA.C.6

How to use ten frames

  1. 1Fill the top row first. Always fill from left to right along the top, then the bottom row. Then every ten frame looks the same for the same number.
  2. 2Ask how many, and how many more. Show 6 and ask: how many dots? How many empty squares? How many more to make 10?
  3. 3Flash the cards. Show a card for two seconds and ask how many. Children learn to see 8 without counting one by one.
  4. 4Use two frames past 10. 13 is one full ten frame and 3 more. That is the start of tens and ones.

More math for kindergarten and 1st grade

Common questions

What is a ten frame?

A ten frame is a rectangle split into 10 squares, in 2 rows of 5. Children put one counter in each square to show a number up to 10.

Why are ten frames good for kindergarten?

They show numbers as groups of 5 and 10, which helps children recognize amounts without counting and learn the pairs that make 10.

What is a double ten frame?

Two ten frames side by side or stacked, for numbers from 11 to 20. A full frame shows the ten, and the second frame shows the ones.

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