What are five and ten frames?

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.