Five and ten frames are graphic
organizers that assist students in learning their basic number facts. Students
use to these frames to add and subtract numbers up to five or up to ten. The
students take a basic subtraction math fact, they fill in the appropriate
frames with markers to represent the first number in the math fact. After the
first number is represented in the frame, the student is able to count the
number of empty blocks to determine the answer to the math fact. In the
following example, the math fact represented is 10-9=? The students are able to
easily see that the ten frame is missing one marker which tells them the answer
is 1. They could also see this example as 9+1= 10.

When using the five and ten
frames to add, the student puts both number in separate ten frames the are
sitting one on top of the other. The students are then able to see how many
markers they can move up to complete one frame and how many empty squares are
left. In the following example, the problem is 7+2=? Once the students move the
two markers up to the first frame, they are able to see that there is only one
empty square in the first ten frame making the answer to the math fact 9.

The more practice students have
with five and ten frames, the quicker they are able to solve the basic math
facts. Learning these basic math facts, helps students when solving more
challenging problems. Practice does not always have to mean worksheets. Parents
can make a game of five and ten frames so that the children want to play. Once
idea for a game might be using pennies to add up to a dime or dimes up to a
dollar. This might be a way add up allowance earned through the week for
different chores to determine how much they made in total for the whole
week.
The internet also offers websites with games using five and ten
frames. These websites can be found in student resources. Please make sure to
work with students when they are using the internet.
Below is a video clip that may explain the concept more
clearly with examples.