Addition — 1st Grade Lesson
Students will add within 20, recall addition facts to 10, and use strategies like counting on and making ten.
1st Grade · Addition · ~20 min lesson
What is addition?
Addition is joining groups together to find the total. When you put 3 apples and 4 apples in one basket, you have 7 apples. The numbers you add are called addends, and the answer is the sum.
3 + 4 = 7 addend + addend = sum
Strategy 1: Count all
For small numbers, count every object one by one.
3 + 2: draw 3 dots, then 2 dots, then count them all: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Strategy 2: Count on
Instead of counting everything from 1, start at the first number and count up.
3 + 4: start at 4, count on 3 more: 5, 6, 7 → 7.
Strategy 3: Make a ten
When adding to 8 or 9, make a ten first — it’s faster and builds number sense.
5 + 8 → 8 + 2 = 10, then 10 + 3 = 13.
Strategy 4: Doubles
Doubles are facts where both addends are the same: 1+1, 2+2, up to 10+10. Learn them and doubles-plus- one facts (6+7 = 6+6+1) come free.
| Doubles | Sum |
|---|---|
| 5 + 5 | 10 |
| 6 + 6 | 12 |
| 7 + 7 | 14 |
| 8 + 8 | 16 |
How to practice at home
- Count everyday things: snacks, stairs, toys — “2 crackers plus 3 crackers is…?”
- Finger counting on: hold up the first number, count on the rest.
- Dominoes: pick a domino, add the two sides.
- Fact flashcards: 2 minutes a day of fast recall to 10.
Practice with the exercises above, then download these free printable worksheets:
Practice Exercises
Try these on your own, then reveal the answer to check.
What is 3 + 4?
💡 Count on from 4: 5, 6, 7.
What is 6 + 6?
💡 A doubles fact.
Find the missing number: 8 + ___ = 10
💡 8 and 2 make a ten.
What is 9 + 1?
💡 9 and 1 make a ten.
What is 5 + 8?
💡 Make a ten: 8 + 2 = 10, then 10 + 3 = 13.
Add three numbers: 2 + 3 + 4
💡 Add 2 + 3 = 5, then 5 + 4 = 9.
Printable Worksheets
Put this lesson into practice with free, printable worksheets — each with an answer key.
Before You Start
- Counting to 20
- Recognizing numbers 0-10
Common Mistakes to Watch For
- Counting objects twice when adding
- Starting the count at 1 instead of counting on from the first number
What to Learn Next
Browse more Addition worksheets or explore all 1st Grade worksheets.
Related Worksheets
Addition Facts to 10 Worksheet
Practice addition facts with sums up to 10, using a number line to count on.
Addition Within 20 Worksheet
Practice addition facts with sums up to 20, with a number line to count on from the larger number.
Missing Addends Worksheet
Find the missing addend that makes each addition sentence true.
Make a Ten to Add Worksheet
Add within 20 by making a ten first: take from one number to fill the other up to 10, then add the rest.
Doubles and Doubles Plus One Worksheet
Use doubles you know to solve near-doubles: a doubles-plus-one fact is just the double and one more.
Adding Three Numbers Worksheet (Within 20)
Add three numbers within 20 by finding a friendly pair first — a ten or a double.
Frequently Asked Questions
What addition facts should a 1st grader know?
By the end of the year, most students should recall addition facts to 10 instantly and add within 20 using strategies like counting on and making ten.
What is the make-a-ten strategy?
When adding a number to 8 or 9, take part of the other number to make ten first. For 5 + 8: take 2 from the 5 to make 8 + 2 = 10, then add the remaining 3 to get 13.
Original & reviewed. Every worksheet is created in-house from a grade-level skill brief, checked for a correct answer key, and reviewed for grade-appropriateness. Our editorial policy.