Using Ten-Frames to Find Number Pairs That Make 10

Khan Academy

This video provides a clear, visual demonstration of how to find missing addends to create a sum of 10 using ten-frames. The narrator walks through two specific examples: finding what number added to 3 makes 10, and what number added to 6 makes 10. By using a ten-frame grid, the video transforms an abstract arithmetic problem into a concrete counting exercise involving filling empty boxes. The key themes explored are basic addition, number bonds (specifically pairs that sum to 10), and the use of visual models to support mathematical reasoning. The video emphasizes the strategy of "counting on" or counting empty spaces to find the difference between a current number and the target number of ten. For educators, this video serves as an excellent tool for introducing or reinforcing the concept of "making ten," a foundational skill for mental math and future arithmetic involving place value. It bridges the gap between counting and adding, allowing students to visually verify that two parts (the initial circles and the added circles) combine to form the whole (the full ten-frame).