Mathematics K–6 · Years 1–2

Bead frame: making ten to add and subtract within 20

Number and algebra

Practical, model not builtLow risk

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The idea

Numbers to 20 are ten and some more, so 8 + 5 is solved by moving 2 to complete the ten and seeing 3 left over, and subtraction undoes the same moves.

What you need

1 twenty-bead frame per pair: 2 rows of 10 beads fixed on rods, each row 5 beads of one colour and 5 of another
2 ten-frame cards and 20 counters as a second representation
a deck of 36 cards showing every addition with both numbers from 2 to 9 and a total from 11 to 18
a recording sheet

How to do it

Show 8 on the top row by sliding 8 beads across in one push (5 of one colour and 3 of the other). Say how many more make ten.
To add 5, slide 2 more on the top row to complete ten, then 3 on the bottom row. Read the total as ten and three without counting by ones.
Record the fact family: 8 + 5 = 13, 5 + 8 = 13, 13 - 5 = 8, 13 - 8 = 5. Show each subtraction by sliding beads back.
Draw ten cards from the deck. For each, predict the total, make it on the frame by completing ten first, and check the prediction.
Sort the drawn cards by the number of beads moved to complete ten (8 + 5 moves 2, 7 + 6 moves 3) and by total, and describe what the cards with the same total share.

What you should see

Every card is made as one full row of ten and part of the second row, so the total is read from the second row: 8 + 5, 7 + 6 and 9 + 4 all show ten and 3, which is 13. Sliding back gives 13 - 5 = 8 by removing 3 beads from the bottom row and 2 from the top. Across the 36 cards, 8 show a total of 11 and each larger total appears on one card fewer, down to a single card for 18 (9 + 9); 13 appears on 6 cards: 4 + 9, 5 + 8, 6 + 7 and their turnarounds.

What changes

This activity lists no variables to change, measure and keep the same.

Common misconceptions

Each of these ideas is wrong, and the activity is a chance to test it.

Counting on by ones from the first number is the only way to add.
Subtraction facts have to be learned separately from addition facts.

Safety card

Low riskLearners carry it out

Hazards

loose beads if a frame breaks

Controls

use frames with beads fixed on rods and check them before the lesson

Note

No chemicals or heat are used, so the NSW Department of Education Chemical Safety in Schools package is not needed; ordinary classroom supervision under the school's usual risk management.

Curriculum references

The NSW syllabus outcomes and Australian Curriculum v9 codes this activity supports. They are references, not a verified or complete curriculum alignment.

Mathematics K-10 Syllabus (2022), NSW Education Standards AuthorityMA1-CSQ-01 MAO-WM-01
Australian Curriculum v9AC9M1N04AC9M2A02

Sources

The pages the author read to write this activity.

All Concept Studio activities