Addition with pictures helps young students see how two groups join to make one larger group. This cheat sheet shows how to count objects, use the plus sign, and write a number sentence. Students can use it to connect pictures, numbers, and spoken math words.
It is especially helpful for building confidence with sums from 1 to 10.
The main idea is that addition means putting groups together. Students can count all the objects or start with one group and count on. A number sentence such as 3 + 2 = 5 tells how many objects are in each group and how many there are in all.
Clear pictures make it easier to check that the equation matches the objects.
Key Facts
- Addition means joining two groups to find how many there are in all.
- The plus sign, +, means add or put together.
- The equals sign, =, means the amount on one side is the same as the amount on the other side.
- In 2 + 3 = 5, the numbers 2 and 3 are the addends and 5 is the sum.
- To count all, touch each picture once and count 1, 2, 3 until every object is counted.
- To count on, start with the bigger group and count up for the smaller group, such as 6 + 2: say 6, then 7, 8.
- The order of the addends can change, but the sum stays the same, such as 4 + 1 = 5 and 1 + 4 = 5.
- For this sheet, every addition answer should be 10 or less.
Vocabulary
- Addition
- Addition is putting two or more groups together to find the total.
- Addend
- An addend is a number being added in an addition sentence.
- Sum
- The sum is the answer to an addition problem.
- Plus sign
- The plus sign, +, tells you to add the groups together.
- Equals sign
- The equals sign, =, shows that two amounts are the same.
- Number sentence
- A number sentence uses numbers and signs to show a math idea, such as 3 + 4 = 7.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Counting the same picture twice gives a sum that is too large because each object should be counted one time only.
- Skipping a picture gives a sum that is too small because every object in both groups must be counted.
- Writing the addends in the wrong place can make the number sentence not match the picture, so check that each group has the correct number.
- Confusing the plus sign with the equals sign is wrong because + means join groups and = means the two sides have the same value.
- Guessing the sum without checking the pictures can lead to mistakes, so touch or point to each object while counting.
Practice Questions
- 1 There are 3 apples and 2 more apples. Write the addition sentence and find the sum.
- 2 Count the pictures in two groups: 4 stars + 5 stars. How many stars are there in all?
- 3 Solve 6 + 3 using counting on. What is the sum?
- 4 If two picture groups show 2 + 4 and 4 + 2, explain why both have the same total.