Working with a Ten Frame

This week we did two activities with a ten frame.  One of our goals was to use a ten frame to figure out story problems.  I would say a story problem, and students would show the problem and answer using a ten frame.

For example, I might say "three people got on the bus at the first bus stop, two students got on the bus at the next stop.  How many people are on the bus?"  

Then we would extend it.  I might say, "the bus holds ten students.  How many more students can get on the bus?"

Another activity we did with ten frames was learning about teen numbers.  Our big idea is that teen numbers are 10 + another number.  We would tell number stories with teen numbers, too.  At first ten people got on the bus, then another six people.  How many people are on the bus?  

Working with a ten frame helps us in math!