Making 10 Worksheet | Essential Grade K Math

This essential math worksheet guides Kindergarten and First Grade students through the foundational skill of making ten. Through a series of varied, engaging activities, learners will build fluency in identifying number pairs that sum to 10, a critical step towards mastering addition and subtraction within 20.

At a Glance

• Grade: K–1 · Subject: Math
• Standard: CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.OA.A.4 — Find the number that makes 10 when added to a given number.
• Skill Focus: Making 10, Number Pairs to 10, Addition
• Format: 3 pages · 24 problems · Answer key included · PDF
• Best For: Independent practice, math centers, formative assessment
• Time: 15–25 minutes

What's Inside

This three-page printable PDF provides a comprehensive practice session for the "making ten" strategy. The worksheet is organized into three distinct parts, beginning with basic number matching, moving to visual ten-frame problems, and concluding with fill-in-the-blank equations. A complete, easy-to-use answer key is included on a separate page for quick grading.

A Clear Path to Fluency

The worksheet follows a proven gradual-release model to support all learners:

• Guided Practice: Students start by matching number pairs that add to 10, reinforcing the visual connection. (10 problems)
• Supported Practice: The next part uses ten frames to bridge concrete and abstract thinking, asking students to identify the missing amount to make ten. (4 problems)
• Independent Practice: The final section assesses mastery by having students fill in the missing addend in "___ + ___ = 10" equations. (10 problems)

This structure builds confidence as scaffolding is removed, leading to true mastery of the skill.

Standards Alignment

This resource directly aligns with Common Core standard CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.OA.A.4, where students find the number that makes 10 when added to a given number. It also supports Grade 1 standard CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.OA.C.6 by building fluency for addition within 10. Both codes can be copied directly into lesson plans or curriculum maps.

How to Use It

Use this for independent practice after a lesson on number pairs to 10 or as a self-directed math center activity. For formative assessment, observe where a student struggles—with number matching, ten frames, or equations—to pinpoint understanding gaps. Expected completion time is 15 to 25 minutes.

Who It's For

Designed for Kindergarteners, this worksheet also serves as review for First Graders. The visual-to-abstract progression offers built-in support. For students needing more help, use counting manipulatives. For a challenge, ask students to write their own equations that equal 10.

This worksheet provides targeted practice on a foundational early math skill: composing ten. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), developing fluency with number combinations to 10 is a key indicator of future success in mathematics. By engaging with the standard CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.OA.A.4, students move beyond simple counting to understand number relationships and part-whole thinking. The worksheet’s design, which progresses from visual aids to abstract equations, reflects best practices for building number sense. Activities that require students to find the number that makes 10 when added to a given number are critical for developing mental math strategies. As cited by the RAND AIRS 2024 report, this automaticity is a prerequisite for multi-digit addition, making it an essential component of any core K-1 math curriculum.