Make Ten Lesson Plan
Make Ten Magic: Small Group Lesson
Small Group Intervention • 45 Minutes • Tier 2 / Tier 3 Special Education
K-2 Math Intervention
Learning Objective
Decompose the second addend into two parts to fill Frame 1 to 10 and connect to an equivalent 10+ fact.
Concrete Materials
Double ten-frame math mats, 2-color counters (blue/orange), dry-erase markers, equation prompt cards.
Key Math Language
Decompose 2nd addend, make 10, number bond, leftovers, friendly 10+ fact.
Math Talk Protocol: Decomposing the Second Addend
Core SpEd Verbal Routine
Special education students need explicit, repetitive verbal scripts to connect the visual movement of counters to the abstract number sentence:
1. Ask: "What do we need?"
Teacher: "8 needs how many to make 10?"
Students: "It needs 2!"
2. Ask: "Who gives it?"
Teacher: "Where do we get that 2?"
Students: "Decompose the second number!"
3. Choral Talk Frame:
"I decompose 4 into 2 (to make 10) and 2 (left over)!"
The 4 Bite-Size Action Steps (Student Anchor Routine)
1 BUILD
Place Counters
Put 1st number in Frame 1. Put 2nd number in Frame 2.
"Fill top to bottom"
2 SPOT
Count Empty Spots
Touch & count how many empty boxes are in Frame 1 to reach 10.
"How many to 10?"
3 DECOMPOSE
Split 2nd Addend
Slide just enough from Frame 2 to fill Frame 1. Say the split out loud!
"Split the 2nd number!"
4 RECORD
Write Sentences
Write 10+ friendly sentence: 10 + [leftover] = [Total]. Match original!
"10 + Rest = Total"
Instructional Sequence: Part 1 (First 18 Minutes)
WARM-UP 8 Min
Combinations of 10 & Number Splitting
Flash ten-frame cards (9, 8, 7). Rapid-fire choral response: "8 needs 2 to make 10!" Practice quick finger-splitting for numbers 3, 4, 5.
Teacher Talk: "Show me 4 fingers. Put 2 fingers down. How many are left? 2! You just decomposed 4 into 2 and 2!"
MODELING 10 Min
Explicit "I Do": Decomposing the 2nd Addend in 8 + 4
Place 8 blue counters in Frame 1 and 4 orange counters in Frame 2. Model the exact talk moves:
Teacher: "Frame 1 has 8. I touch the empty spots: 1, 2. 8 is hungry for 2 more to make 10!"
Teacher: "Look at Frame 2. It has 4. I am going to decompose 4. I break 4 into 2 and 2. I slide 2 into Frame 1. Now Frame 1 is 10! What's left in Frame 2? 2!"
Teacher: "My friendly fact is 10 + 2 = 12. So 8 + 4 must equal 12!"
Make Ten Magic • Small Group Instructional Guide Page 1 of 2
Guided Practice & Targeted SpEd Interventions
We Do • You Do • Error Correction
WE DO 12 Min
Partner & Teacher-Guided Math Mat Station
Students use individual Double Ten-Frame Mats. Guide students to explicitly talk through decomposing the 2nd addend for each problem:
Problem A: 9 + 5
"9 needs 1.
Decompose 5 into 1 and 4!
10 + 4 = 14"
Problem B: 8 + 5
"8 needs 2.
Decompose 5 into 2 and 3!
10 + 3 = 13"
Problem C: 7 + 4
"7 needs 3.
Decompose 4 into 3 and 1!
10 + 1 = 11"
YOU DO 15 Min
Exit Ticket Completion (10 min) & Math Talk Debrief (5 min)
Students complete the Exit Ticket Worksheet with the new decomposition number bond prompts.
Closing Question: "When solving 8 + 6, what two numbers do you decompose 6 into? (2 and 4). Why did we need 2? (To feed the 8 to make 10!)"
Decomposition Misconceptions & Rapid Interventions
| Observed Misconception | Underlying Cause | Direct Correction Script / Action |
|---|
| Doesn't know how to split the second addend. | Weak part-whole mental math for single-digit numbers. | "Pencil Divider": Place a yellow pencil across Frame 2 counters to physically separate the ones sliding over from the ones staying. |
| Moves counters from Frame 1 into Frame 2. | Arbitrary directionality; doesn't recognize Frame 1 is closer to 10. | "Feed the Big Frame!" Place a gold star sticker on Frame 1. The bigger number is hungry for 10! |
| Forgets what the leftover counters represent. | Working memory overload after moving counters. | Point to Frame 2: "Who is still sitting in Frame 2? Count them. That's your second number in 10 + __!" |
Targeted Special Education Accommodations
Physical Separation
Use 2 small paper cups for the 2nd addend. Pour the amount needed into Frame 1; keep leftovers in the cup.
Color-Coded Decomposition
Use yellow counters for the portion of the 2nd addend that moves and red for the leftover portion.
Choral Sentence Prompt
Keep the visual talk card on student desks: "I decompose [2nd] into [to 10] and [leftover]!"
Make Ten Magic • Small Group Instructional Guide Page 2 of 2
Make Ten Math Mat
Make Ten Math Mat
Build it • Decompose the 2nd Addend • Slide to 10 • Write sentences!
Name:
1
1. BUILD IT Put counters in both frames.
2
2. DECOMPOSE & SLIDE Split 2nd number & fill to 10.
3
3. WRITE BOTH Write 10+ and original fact.
Place Current Equation Card Here:
e.g., 8 + 4 = ?
1 Frame 1: First Number
Feed me to 10!
Slide counters here until full
2 Frame 2: Second Number
Decompose Me!
Count what is left over here
Decompose the 2nd Addend (Number Bond)
🗣️ Say It Out Loud!
2nd Number
Part to make 10 (slides over)
Part left over (stays in Frame 2)
🗣️ Student Talk Frame:
"I decompose [2nd] into [to make 10] and [left over]!"
Friendly 10+ Number Sentence: (10 + Leftover in Frame 2)
10 +
=
Original Number Sentence: (The starting equation card)
=
"Decompose the 2nd number • 10 + rest makes addition the best!" Reusable Math Mat • Laminate or use dry-erase sleeve
Small Group Equation Task Cards
Practice decomposing the 2nd addend and saying the math talk sentence out loud.
8 Practice Cards
! Decomposition Rule: Split 2nd number into (needed for 10) + (leftover).
8 + [2 + 2] = 10 + 2
Card 1
8 + 4 = ___
How many to make 10? 8 needs 2
Decompose 4 into: 2 and 2
🗣️ "I decompose 4 into 2 and 2!"
10+ Fact: 10 + 2 = 12
Card 2
9 + 5 = ___
How many to make 10? 9 needs 1
Decompose 5 into: 1 and 4
🗣️ "I decompose 5 into 1 and 4!"
10+ Fact: 10 + 4 = 14
Card 3
8 + 5 = ___
How many to make 10? 8 needs 2
Decompose 5 into: 2 and 3
🗣️ "I decompose 5 into 2 and 3!"
10+ Fact: 10 + 3 = 13
Card 4
7 + 4 = ___
How many to make 10? 7 needs 3
Decompose 4 into: 3 and 1
🗣️ "I decompose 4 into 3 and 1!"
10+ Fact: 10 + 1 = 11
Card 5
9 + 3 = ___
How many to make 10? 9 needs 1
Decompose 3 into: 1 and 2
🗣️ "I decompose 3 into 1 and 2!"