Math · Stage 1
Add & Subtract to 10
Count on to add, count back to take away — and use parts and wholes to check.
✦ Math📘 Stage 1 · S1⏱ ~10 min🧒 Ages 5–6★ Free to start
add and subtract within 10 by counting on and counting back (part–whole).
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Kavi's Pond Hop 💧
Kavi wants to cross the pond on stepping stones numbered 0 to 10. Kavi starts on stone 5 and hops 3 forward: 6, 7, 8! Then Kavi hops 2 back: 7, 6. "I never start again from 1," says Kavi. "I just count on to add and count back to take away!"
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What your child will learn
1Add more countersShow 5 counters: tap Add 1 five times. Now add 3 more and count on as you tap: 6… 7… 8. Don't say 5 again — start from the next number!
2Count on, count backTo add, start on the first number and count on along the line — one hop for each you add: 6 + 3 → 7, 8, 9. To subtract, count back the other way: 9 − 3 → 8, 7, 6. Each hop on this line is +1.
3Part – part – whole helpsSubtracting is finding a missing part. The whole is 10. If one part is 4, the other part is 6 — so 10 − 4 = 6. Move the split to see more.
4Do it in your headNo pictures now! Count on to add: 4 + 3 → 5, 6, 7. Count back to subtract: 8 − 3 → 7, 6, 5. Use the number strip to check.
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A peek inside
Kavi has 5 acorns 🌰 and finds 3 more. How many acorns now?
5 + 3 → 6, 7, 8
Try this at home: Count on: 7 + 2 = __
Ready to play and learn?
Start the free interactive lesson, or print the handout for screen-free play.
Part of Math · Stage 1 · S1 on KAVI Academy — a secular, whole-child learning platform for ages 5–12.