Ten
Frames
Two rows of five spaces that organize counters around the benchmarks five and ten.
What
they teach.
Simple materials.
Powerful mathematical ideas.
Five and ten
See a quantity in relation to a full row of five and a full frame of ten.
Missing parts
Use empty spaces to show how many more make ten.
Making a ten
Move counters between two frames to represent an addition strategy.
How to use them.
Start with curiosity. Make room for discovery.
Meet the frame
Count its two rows of five spaces. Put no more than one counter in each space.
Build a quantity
Place seven counters in the frame. Describe five and two, and notice three spaces remain.
Explain a move
Add five using a second frame. Move three into the first frame to show ten and two.
Try an activity
Show it two ways
Build six in a frame by filling one row and adding one. Rearrange the same six counters into another pattern. Discuss what is easier to see in each arrangement.
Let the spaces do some of the work
A ten frame gives the empty spaces a meaning. Seven counters leave three empty spaces, so the same picture can describe seven, three more to ten, or ten minus three.
Filling one row first is a helpful convention for seeing five and some more. It is not the only valid arrangement. When a learner builds six differently, ask them to explain the grouping before rearranging their work.
For quantities greater than ten, place two frames beside each other. If the task is 8 + 5, physically move two of the five counters to complete the first ten. The model now shows ten and three, while the original total remains thirteen. Link the move to 8 + 2 + 3 in writing.
Choose your toolkit.
Find a format that fits your setting.
A printed or drawn frame works well with appropriately sized counters. For purchased boards, check that counters fit the spaces and that enough frames are included for numbers beyond ten.
Physical options link to Amazon. Illustrations show the material, not the exact product.
Physical option · wooden frames and counters
SYNARRY Wooden Ten-Frame Set (6 Frames)
Six wooden ten frames and 60 counters in six colors for making ten and comparing quantities. Includes writing boards, dry-erase markers, math game cards, dice, number stones, and a storage bag.
View on Amazon
Digital alternative
Manipulatives app
An on-screen frame can show a number as five and some more, or as a distance from ten. Ask the learner to explain the filled and empty spaces. A drawn frame works for the same questions.
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