Using Ten Frames to Add

The Hamtrack Express is almost ready for its first passengers. Conductor Squeaks just has to figure out how many train cars to add. We can help him by "Using Ten Frames to Add." Ten frames are charts with two equal rows of five with ten spaces in total. When we place counters in those spaces, we can see different numbers within ten. For example, the number six looks like this in a ten frame. Each box has one marker, and there are six in total. If we fill up the entire ten frame, it means we have a set of ten! When we see a full ten frame, we know the amount is ten right away without having to count! We can use a ten frame like this or like this. It works the same both ways because the amount of spaces does not change. Now, let's help Mr. Squeaks add his train cars together!' His first choice is to add three cars plus two more. He can use a ten frame to solve this problem. Start by showing the first number, three, in counters on the ten frame. Then, show the second number, two, on the ten frame using counters again. Now, count all the filled spaces on the ten frame. There are five counters in all, so three train cars plus two train cars equals five train cars. Conductor Squeaks could add five train cars to the track! Next, he wants to try adding seven cars plus three more. Let's show the first number, seven, in counters on the ten frame. Then, let's show the second number, three, in counters next to the ones already there. Now, count all the filled spaces on the ten frame. Wait! We don't have to count this time! The ten frame is full, which means there are ten in all. So seven train cars plus three train cars equals ten! Conductor Squeaks could add ten train cars to the tracks! Finally, he wants to try adding nine cars plus four more. What do we do first? First, we show nine counters on the ten frame. What comes next? Next, show four more counters on the ten frame. Uh-oh! It's full, but we have three counters left, what can we do? We can use another ten frame and put the rest of the counters there! Now, we count all the filled spaces on both ten frames. Since we have a full ten frame, we can start counting at the number ten and continue with the second frame: eleven, twelve, thirteen! Nine train cars plus four train cars equals thirteen train cars! Conductor Squeaks could add thirteen train cars to the track! Before we see how many cars he decided to add, let's remember. Today we learned to add using ten frames! Ten frames are charts with ten spaces that help us see numbers within ten. To use them to add. Look at the first number in the problem and put that many counters on the ten frame. Then, look at the second number and put that many more counters on. Finally, count all the filled spaces on the ten frame and write the answer. If a ten frame is full, you know you have ten without needing to count. If you fill up one ten frame, and still have more counters left, use another ten frame. Look there goes Conductor Squeaks! He decided to add ten cars, but where has Imani been?