Math facts are a key component of early math instruction. The key is to keep addition and subtraction instruction fun, hands-on and motivating for young learners. I made the Valentine’s Day Addition Activity with Ten Frames as a fun Valentine themed way for kids to practice important math skills. Using ten frames and candy hearts, kids practice learning and recognizing the number bonds of ten.
Knowing how to make ten is a valuable problem solving skill that really contributes to overall number sense. This free Valentine’s Day math activity offers all the things: It’s cute and engaging, it’s visual and hands-on, it targets multiple math skills, and…it involves candy hearts!
Recommended Grade Level:
Valentine Ten-Frame Addition Supplies:
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Learning Addition Facts to 10 in Kindergarten
TEN FRAME CONVERSATION HEART MATH Game
ADDITION UP TO 10 IS AN IMPORTANT MATH GOAL IN PRIMARY GRADES. KIDS NEED LOTS OF REPETITION AND PRACTICE TO GAIN FLUENCY.
I love using ten frames in kindergarten. It is a wonderful visual representation of the number, and it guides kids to find the correct answer every time.
While single digit addition worksheets and free printables are great to assess how kids are progressing with learning facts to 10, kids need more engaging ways to practice. They will become bored with math worksheets over time, even Valentine math worksheets aren’t the same as a fun game.
There are a variety of ways to use the Valentine ten frame math mats. Adapt and get creative as needed to suit the needs of all of your learners.
You could also turn this into a partner kindergarten addition game! One student picks a ten frame and fills it in with missing hearts while the other writes the number sentence. Then they switch and repeat.
The candy heart math mats teach more than addition facts to ten. Use the activity as an opportunity for further thought and math talk:
- What is the sum?
- How many more hearts do you need to make 10?
- How many hearts are already on the ten frame?
- What numbers add up to 10 (addends)?
What Can Preschoolers Learn While Working With Ten Frames and Hearts?
VALENTINE’S DAY MATH WORKSHEETS AND GAMES
TEN FRAMES, WORKSHEETS, GAMES, AND ACTIVITIES PROVIDE A VARIED WAY FOR KIDS TO LEARN AND PRACTICE IMPORTANT MATH SKILLS.
The Valentine ten frame mats teach a variety of math skills:
- Ways to make ten
- Number sentences
- Addition symbols
- Addition vocabulary (sum/total/addends)
Why Is It Important For Kids To Play Addition Games?
Children learn best when the learning feels easy and fun. Playing math games encourages practice with a ton of important skills while cleverly disguised as a fun game!
Number Sense
Playing math games improves numbers sense which is the ability to understand, compare/contrast, and relate numbers to each other.
Vocabulary
Encouraging kids to use math vocabulary while playing games (sum/difference/total/greater than/less than)is a meaningful way to practice.
Automaticity
When children effortlessly (automatically) know basic math facts, it makes more complex computations easier.
Cooperative Learning
Simple games with partners or small groups give kids a lot of practice with social skills, like taking turns, following rules, and winning/losing.
Tools you’ll need
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Don’t worry about making a special trip to the store. You can get all the supplies for this activity right here. Click the pictures above to get what you need.
How to Make the Valentine’s Day Ten Frame Addition Activity
To Prep:
First, print and cut out the ten frame mats. I suggest printing on card stock and then laminating. That way students can write their number sentences with dry-erase crayon and erase when they are finished.
Once the mats are ready to use, give students a mat and a handful of conversation hearts.
To Use:
Fill in the empty spaces on the ten frame with candy hearts. Write a number sentence by first recording the number of printed hearts on the ten frame on the first blank line. Add the number of candy hearts placed on the mat and record on the second blank line. Record the sum (10).
For example, the mat with three printed hearts, students would place seven candy hearts on the empty squares, and then write 3 + 7 = 10.
Our Favorite Valentine Books:
We can’t live without these!
Once your child’s creativity is sparked with this fun activity, take it a step further with these engaging resources:
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Easy Product Displays Products hereThere Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Rose!
Love MonsterThe Berenstain Bears’ Valentine Blessings (Berenstain Bears/Living Lights: A Faith Story)Pete the Cat: Valentine’s Day Is CoolAmelia Bedelia’s First ValentineLittle Blue Truck’s ValentineLlama Llama I Love YouDay It Rained HeartsThe Biggest Valentine EverSplat the Cat: Funny Valentine
Add More Addends
Students can fill the ten frame with random candy hearts. Then have them write a number sentence based on the colors of their hearts. If there are two printed hearts, and then they add three pink, two purple and three green, they could write
2 + 3 + 2 + 3 = 10
Graphing
A candy hearts graphing activity pairs well with this ten frame activity. Provide a blank graph and give students a handful of hearts. Label each column with a color. Have them graph the hearts by color by placing them in the appropriate column.
Oral Math
Saying each number sentence out loud can help kids remember their facts to ten. After each mat is filled in, have students orally call out the number sentence. They can even use the commutative property and switch the addends around to say a different equation with the same sum.
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